Wanted: Entertainment empire seeks new suitor. Must appreciate the grace of Seabiscuit along with the rage of The Hulk. Wide musical tastes -- from Eminem to Andrea Bocelli -- are a plus, but not necessary to close the deal. Former social drinker, now reformed and looking for peaceful strolls in theme parks or settling in for a night of video games and DVD viewing. No reasonable offer refused. Well, except for the low-ball $11.5 billion dowry offer that MGM
With that, Vivendi
But that opens the door for more public bidders as rival studios and entertainment conglomerates look to take advantage of a distressed seller in debt-laden Vivendi.
Who wants a piece of Vivendi? Who doesn't? Viacom
Others like cable staple Liberty Media
There's something else too. The bidders have time on their side while every day that passes for Vivendi is another chunk of change due on the company's debt. While there are too many interested parties for Vivendi's entertainment properties to wind up as old maids, it may mean that Vivendi will have to sell its Universal empire piecemeal rather than in one lump sum.
That would open up the bidding process to new potential bidders like Disney and AOL Time Warner