Diller's buyout bid lifts MGM, then collapses on financing
Diller's take-private bid Barry Diller offered $48.30 per share to buy MGM and take it private, initially lifting the stock. A special committee and a raised fair-value estimate of $50.57 suggested room for a higher offer.
This was the dominant event of the quarter and initially drove the stock higher.
Las Vegas revenue growth and Q2 beat Las Vegas revenue grew for the first time in two years, and Q2 revenue beat expectations at $4.45 billion. The Osaka project also stayed on budget, supporting the bullish case.
These operational positives provided fundamental support during the buyout saga.
Risks and investigations Legal investigations into conflicts of interest and a Nevada regulatory review added uncertainty. Resorts World expanded in New York while MGM sat out, and a big EBITDA miss ($610 million vs. $1.19 billion expected) raised concerns.
These negative developments weighed on sentiment and highlighted operational and regulatory challenges.
Diller withdraws, shares fall In September, Diller withdrew his buyout bid, citing financing troubles. MGM shares fell about 11%. The company is now considering buying its largest shareholder, People Inc., though the market reaction is uncertain.
The collapse of the buyout was the key negative event that drove the stock down sharply.