O’Melveny Advises ViacomCBS in Acquisition of Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico

CENTURY CITY—November 3, 2021—O’Melveny advised ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) in its definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the acclaimed Spanish language content producer Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico from the companies’ founding family and The Walt Disney Company.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

The O’Melveny team advising VCNI is led by partner Silvia Vannini, counsel Zach Greenberg, and associate Alexandra Piarino, with key contributions from partners Robert Fisher, Andrew Dolak, Greta Lichtenbaum, Chris Del Rosso, Courtney Dyer, Eric Amdursky, special counsel Scott Pink, senior counsel John Renneisen, counsel Tom Oslovar, Rob Catmull, Alex Chester, and associate Jameson Frazier.

O’Melveny has been synonymous with entertainment law since Hollywood’s Golden Age of the 1930s. The firm has repeatedly helped major players in film, television, digital media, production and distribution, gaming, music, and finance forge groundbreaking deals and resolve high-profile disputes. As shifting financial models and technological advances transform today’s entertainment and media business, O’Melveny remains a firm of choice for industry leaders.

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ViacomCBS issued the following press release:
 
VIACOMCBS TO ACQUIRE MAJORITY INTEREST IN  FOX TELECOLOMBIA & ESTUDIOS TELEMEXICO 
 
Investment in Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico Expands ViacomCBS’ Position as a Leading Spanish Language Content Producer, Feeding more Premier Spanish Language Content to Global Streaming Platforms Paramount+, Pluto TV and Linear Networks Worldwide 
  
Transaction Will Bolster VCNI’s Studio Production Capabilities and Complement its Portfolio of Production Assets in Latin America  
  
NEW YORK — October 28, 2021 — ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC, VIACA) today announced that ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the acclaimed Spanish language content producer, Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico from The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and the founding family of Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico. ViacomCBS International Studios’ VIS, a division of VCNI, will operate Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico as a collaborative partnership with the founding family. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. 
  
Through this transaction, VCNI will gain access to Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico’s studio operations in both Colombia and Mexico, as well as many hours of library content, which is comprised of multifaceted entertainment spanning multiple key genres including premium series, telenovelas, films, documentaries, unscripted, kids and family, branded and digital content and live sports shows produced for various audiences. This content will fuel ViacomCBS’ global streaming platforms including Paramount+ and Pluto TV, and its linear networks around the world.  Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico will also bolster ViacomCBS’ Spanish language content production capabilities to capitalize on significant content demand in the region and worldwide. This transaction combined with VCNI’s existing portfolio in Latin America, which includes VIS’ studio business and  broadcasters Telefe in Argentina and the recently acquired Chilevisión in Chile, will position ViacomCBS as one of the leading Spanish-language content production companies in the world. 
  
“The acquisition of Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico, combined with ViacomCBS’ existing Spanish-language portfolio including Telefe and Chilevisión, reinforces the company’s position as a leading worldwide producer of Spanish-language content,” said Raffaele Annecchino, President and CEO, ViacomCBS Networks International. “This content will fuel ViacomCBS’ global ecosystem across Paramount+, Pluto TV and its linear networks.” 
 
Samuel Duque Rozo, Founder and CEO of Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico, stated: “This announcement is very fulfilling and I feel very honored that Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico will continue its expansion and growth in the hands of such an amazing company as ViacomCBS and its talented and visionary executives. The extraordinary work that our team has made during all these years, combined with ViacomCBS’ vision, iconic brands, experience, professionalism, creativity among much more, will bring nothing less but the best for both businesses.” 
  
Samuel Duque Rozo, Founder and CEO of the company, will continue to exclusively support the business from a creative and strategic advisory position, and Samuel Duque Duque, current President, will lead the business. Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico will fall under the remit of Juan “JC” Acosta, President of ViacomCBS International Studios and Networks Americas. The acquisition joins ViacomCBS’ Latin American portfolio, which includes two of the region’s most-watched free-to-air broadcasters, Telefe in Argentina and Chilevisión in Chile; the premium SVOD service, Paramount+; top FAST service Pluto TV; ViacomCBS International Studios production hubs; comedy YouTube channel and creators, Porta dos Fundos; more than 10 branded pay TV networks, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Comedy Central, among others; multiple on-the-ground events and experiences; and an extensive consumer products catalogue.   
  
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  
  
ViacomCBS Networks International  (VCNI) 
ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a unit of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC, VIACA), comprises many of the world's most iconic consumer brands. Its portfolio includes Channel 5, Telefe, Chilevisión, Network 10, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Network, streaming services Paramount+ and Pluto TV, and ViacomCBS International Studios, among others. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS Networks International provides robust production, distribution, and advertising solutions for partners on five continents and across more than 180 countries. 
 
VIAC-IR  
 
The Walt Disney Company 
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution; and three content groups—Studios, General Entertainment and Sports–focused on developing and producing content for DTC, theatrical and linear platforms. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $65.4 billion in its Fiscal Year 2020. 
 
ViacomCBS Networks International: 
Janice Gatti 
Senior Vice President, Communications 
1-347-754-1677 
Janice.Gatti@ViacomCBS.com 
  
Ashley Priest 
Senior Director, Communications 
1-646-285-6081 
Ashley.priest@ViacomCBS.com 
  
Investors: 
Anthony DiClemente 
Executive Vice President, Investor Relations 
(917) 796-4647 
anthony.diclemente@viacomcbs.com 
  
Jaime Morris 
Vice President, Investor Relations 
(646) 824-5450 
jaime.morris@viacomcbs.com 
  
Robert Amparo 
Manager, Investor Relations 
(347) 223-1682 
robert.amparo@viacom.com 
  
The Walt Disney Company: 
David Jefferson 
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(818) 560-4832 
david.j.jefferson@disney.com 
 
Ariadna Bergoglio 
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Latin America 
54-230-426-2135 
ariadna.bergoglio@disney.com