Al Fayed bids for Pinewood
Mohamed al Fayed is understood to be the second mystery bidder in talks to buy James Bond studio Pinewood.
The colourful owner of Fulham Football Club is thought to have signalled his interest in making an approach for the iconic studios.
It follows an £87.8m bid for the whole firm from Peel Holdings, run by billionaire investor John Whittaker.
Pinewood declined to name the bidder but City sources told City A.M. it is likely to be a high-worth individual rather than a trade or private equity backed offer.
The “unconnected third party” has not yet made a formal offer for the company. Pinewood stock rose almost six per cent on the news yesterday.
Earlier this month, Pinewood confirmed an offer of 190p per share from Peel, but made no further comment.
The Al Fayed bid, revealed by Sky News, follows a troubled period for Pinewood, whose second-largest shareholder Crystal Amber last year made a public demand for chairman Michael Grade to leave the company.