Fiction
Balaji Telefilms to acquire Ding Infinity
MUMBAI: Balalji Telefilms is all set to take over content studio Ding Infinity. Over the weekend, the company informed the Bombay stock exchange of its intentions. Ding is a production house promoted by long time Balali Telelfilms creative professional Tanveer Bookwala, who was once CCO at Balaji Motion Pictures.
The Ekta Kapoor spearheaded firm will be picking up a minimum of 55 per cent equity in Ding, which was promoted in November 2020, at a price less than Rs 5 crore. The deal is planned to be a cash for shares deal, with Balaji acquiring a controlling majority stake.
The purpose of the acquisition: to produce 100 per cent premium original cut through the clutter content. Ding was set up by Tanveer to produce premium shows and films at competitive budgets giving directors and creators a free hand to produce a variety of genres keeping its founder’s vision for the company in mind.
The twitterverse was buzzing when Ekta Kapoor announced she would reveal all very soon, posing with Tanveer for a selfie. Twitterati presumed the duo was getting married; when it actually related to her acquiring Tanveer’s firm.
Said Kapoor: “Tanveer is a true storyteller at heart and has for a decade worked tirelessly and passionately at Balaji Telefilms for multiple projects to deliver for his audiences.”
Said Tanveer: Balaji Telefilms and Ekta’s faith in my abilities, allows me the opportunity to enable my creativity backed with logistical and strategic support.”
Fiction
Warner Bros Discovery sees Sachem Head double stake in Q4 filing
Activist fund ups bet as Paramount circles and Netflix deal looms
NEW YORK: Warner Bros Discovery has drawn fresh activist attention, with hedge fund Sachem Head Capital Management more than doubling its stake in the media giant during the fourth quarter, according to a regulatory filing.
The fund, one of 2025’s best performers, said it held nearly 8 million shares in Warner Bros Discovery by the end of December. The position ranks among its ten largest US equity bets, underlining growing investor interest in the company as takeover drama gathers pace.
The move comes at a pivotal moment for the studio and streaming group. Warner Bros Discovery has agreed to sell its streaming and studios business to Netflix, a deal that has stirred interest across the industry and sparked a rival approach from Paramount Skydance.
Paramount has already made a hostile bid that was rejected last month, but it is far from backing down. This week, the company stepped up pressure on Warner Bros Discovery, urging the board to at least consider whether its offer could be made more attractive than Netflix’s proposal.
Paramount has also hinted at a possible boardroom battle, suggesting it could attempt to replace directors. It even floated the idea of bringing in the head of Pentwater Capital Management, one of Warner Bros Discovery’s largest investors, as a potential board candidate.
With a market value of about 70 billion dollars, Warner Bros Discovery now sits at the centre of a high stakes contest between strategic buyers and activist investors. Sachem Head’s increased holding signals that the hedge fund sees opportunity in the turbulence.
The filing also revealed new bets by Sachem Head elsewhere. The fund bought 5.2 million shares in telecoms company EchoStar, and opened fresh positions in used car retailer Carvana and entertainment group Live Nation.
Such filings offer a snapshot of hedge fund portfolios at the end of the previous quarter. While they are backward looking, investors still track them closely for clues on which stocks are gaining favour or becoming targets for change.
