ViacomCBS To Sell CBS Studio Center For $1.85 Billion

ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC, VIACA) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell CBS Studio Center and its associated operating business to a partnership formed by Hackman Capital Partners, LLC and Square Mile Capital Management, LLC for approximately $1.85 billion.

Photo Insert: New York Street in the CBS Studio Center

The transaction, according to a PR Newswire report, is the result of a widely marketed sale process, which attracted interest from a number of buyers, reflecting the value of CBS Studio Center as a best-in-class studio lot in the highly competitive Los Angeles studio marketplace.

The property sits on a 55-gross-acre site in Studio City and consists of over 1 million square feet of space, including 22 stages, production office, and support buildings, third-party tenant offices, a purpose-built broadcast center, and filmable backlot locations.

"This sale is part of an ongoing optimization of ViacomCBS' real estate and operations portfolio and will allow the company to redeploy capital to strategic growth priorities, including streaming," said Naveen Chopra, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, ViacomCBS.

At closing, CBS Broadcasting Inc. will enter into a long-term lease-back of the Broadcast Center, which is home to television stations CBS 2 and KCAL 9. ViacomCBS will continue to occupy stages and produce content on the lot, as well as enter into a short-term lease-back of certain portions of the property in order to manage the transition of ViacomCBS employees to other locations.

"We're honored to have been selected as the new stewards of CBS Studio Center, one of the most celebrated and successful studios in Los Angeles," said Michael Hackman Founder and CEO of Hackman Capital Partners.

"The studio has been a hitmaker from the days of Gunsmoke, Mary Tyler Moore, and Seinfeld, and we're thrilled to continue our ongoing relationship with ViacomCBS to service its many successful shows currently filmed on the lot."

"CBS Studio Center is an iconic property that has been home to many of television's legendary programs over the years," said Square Mile Capital CEO Craig Solomon. "With ViacomCBS maintaining an important presence at the property, we anticipate a smooth ownership transition and many more great years ahead."

The transaction is expected to close in 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic