Production company behind ‘Spotlight’ seeks huge valuation
That Oscar’s worth how much?
The production company behind “Spotlight,” the Oscar-winning movie about a Boston newspaper investigation, is angling for a huge valuation of $300 million for a majority stake in their successful company, The Post has learned.
The firm, Anonymous Content, run by Steve Golin, was also behind Fox’s “The Revenant” — and together got 12 Oscar nominations.
The sought-after $300 million valuation — a staggering 30 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda — proves that an Oscar could really turn success into gold.
“They are drunk with success,” a source told The Post, referring to Anonymous Content’s brass. “The multiple is insane.”
Last November, Golin hired Guggenheim Partners to shop a 51 percent stake in the Hollywood venture as a way of financing growth.
The owners are now open to a deal beyond that original parameter — including a minority stake or the entire company, one source said.
In March, Endemol Shine, production company eOne, and Viacom’s Paramount Pictures were fingered by Variety as being interested in a deal.
It is unclear whether any of the three companies submitted bids.
Golin, sources said, is hoping to get a valuation for the 17-year-old company of 30 times its $9 million to $10 million Ebitda.
The last major TV content business to sell was Relativity Media, which was bought by a group of partners behind MGM for $125 million, a multiple of about 8 times Ebitda — which is closer to the norm.
At the same time, Anonymous Content has a production pact with Paramount that expires in May 2017, the Hollywood Reporter noted in March.
Anonymous Content, based in Culver City, Calif., and New York, also has HBO hit “True Detective” and USA’s “Mr. Robot,” among other credits.
Anonymous Content, founded in 1999 by Golin, who serves as chief executive, is both a production and management company representing talent.
Golin was previously behind a music production company called Propaganda Films.
Representatives for Anonymous and Guggenheim didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.