All articles tagged with #buyout
UK announced that J Batt will become the university’s athletic director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, with a July 28 start date to replace Mitch Barnhart, who retires June 30 and will receive over $3 million in severance; Batt’s transition includes a Michigan State buyout totaling about $3.95 million through July 1, 2027, a figure affected by a previously discussed MSU–Clemson move that ultimately did not occur.
Michigan State reduced J Batt’s exit buyout from $5 million to $2.5 million after a contract clause triggered by MSU president Kevin Guskiewicz’s announcement of a move to Clemson; Batt then joined Kentucky as athletics director and CEO of Champions Blue, LLC, as UK eyes a broader revenue push and ongoing capital projects, building on past buyouts and settlements in the program’s evolving leadership and fundraising strategy.
IMAX is reportedly exploring a sale, sending shares higher though no formal bids have been made. CEO Rich Gelfond hinted a buyout is possible, and analysts view IMAX as an attractive, defensible asset for buyers ranging from private equity to Netflix, Apple and other tech or media players. With a market cap around $2.1B and a recent $39 stock price, IMAX posted a record $1.28B global box office last year and projects higher 2026 revenue, while expanding installations and diversifying beyond Hollywood through local-language and live-content offerings.
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen is pursuing a takeover of eBay for more than $50 billion, proposing a $125-per-share cash-and-stock offer funded by about $20 billion in debt and GameStop’s cash. To help finance the bid, Cohen has listed 25 GameStop memorabilia items on eBay, including store signs and a carpet, each with a signed letter about the deal. The move follows his January pledge to seek a company to transform GameStop, and it has stirred market chatter as investors weigh the viability and potential leadership of a combined GameStop-eBay entity.
eBay shares surged after Ryan Cohen, the GameStop investor, unveiled a $56 billion bid to acquire eBay and take it private, a move that could reshape ownership of the online marketplace and trigger a notable market reaction.
Alabama’s Board of Trustees approved a seven-year extension for head coach Kalen DeBoer, boosting his annual salary to $12.5 million and placing him among the top five paid college football coaches; the deal includes a stepped buyout schedule of $10 million through January 2027, $8 million through January 2028, and $6 million through January 2029, and DeBoer reaffirmed his commitment to Alabama despite prior Michigan interest.
Interior Secretary Burgum told the House Appropriations Committee there are no plans for workforce reductions (RIFs) at the Interior Department after last fall signaled a plan to cut more than 2,000 jobs; a buyout/early retirement program has been completed and many RIF notices have been rescinded. Congress imposed guardrails in FY2026 to protect National Park Service staffing, noting parks’ popularity, while Burgum said the focus should be on filling public-facing park roles. The department is consolidating operations and moving wildland firefighting programs toward a broader consolidation with USDA’s Forest Service, with the FY2027 budget reflecting these reassignments; some NPS staff were remote and not park-facing, and transfers are within the budget rather than new cuts. This is a developing story.
LSU is reportedly bringing back Will Wade to replace Matt McMahon, with McMahon not yet formally notified as talks and a decision loom. Wade’s NC State buyout drops to $3 million on April 1, and the two sides had discussions but apparently did not reach an agreement as of publication. Wade would return to the SEC to renew a rivalry with Kentucky, while McMahon’s four-year run at LSU has been marred by NCAA Tournament absence and a 15-17 (3-15) finish in 2026.
North Carolina announced it is parting ways with coach Hubert Davis after a historic first-round collapse to VCU, paying roughly $5.3 million to buy out his contract. The school will conduct a national coaching search led by outgoing AD Bubba Cunningham and incoming AD Steve Newmark, with Turnkey ZRG aiding the search and an advisory group of stakeholders guiding the process amid donor concerns about roster funding and modernization.
North Carolina's Hubert Davis remains under scrutiny after the Tar Heels' second straight early exit in the NCAA tournament, with no official decision announced as of now; pundits including Seth Davis criticized the prolonged delay, ESPN’s Pete Thamel saying a return is unlikely, and discussions reportedly include a potential $5.3 million buyout as Davis met with his team amid ongoing deliberations.
Paramount+ will fold BET+ into its service in June after Paramount Skydance buys out Tyler Perry Studios’ stake, migrating about 1,000 hours of BET+ programming—including All the Queen’s Men, Zatima, The Ms. Pat Show and Diarra From Detroit—to Paramount+. Perry will continue to produce BET content under a broad content-partnership, with BET’s linear channel and digital operations remaining active as the brands consolidate to broaden reach.
Kansas State fired head coach Jerome Tang after a downturn in results, despite a lucrative, guaranteed contract through 2030. If fired without cause, Tang would receive about $18.67 million. The piece argues this isn’t a morality issue but a money one, highlighting how schools sign big deals they later regret and may be forced to pay out, with Tang having led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in 2022-23 before the program’s recent struggles, potentially triggering legal and financial fallout and echoes of other big buyouts at other programs.
Kansas State and Jerome Tang have parted ways after four seasons as the Wildcats sit 10-15 (1-11 Big 12) amid a seven-game skid and likely NCAA Tournament absence; Tang, who led K-State to the Elite Eight in 2023, finishes 71-57. Buyout is rumored around $18 million with terms still being negotiated, following his blistering postgame remarks after a 91-62 loss to Cincinnati.
ESPN reports veteran guard Mike Conley is set to rejoin the Minnesota Timberwolves after being traded to Chicago and then Charlotte and bought out by the Hornets; talks are ongoing for him to re-sign with Minnesota, with teammates publicly supporting a return.
Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is pondering retirement but has not made a final decision; discussions reportedly center on a potential contract buyout to save money for San Diego as he rehabs from elbow issues, with his camp and team weighing whether he can return to pitch after a 21-year career in Japan and MLB.