Relativity's last-minute bid for Maker rebuffed; sale to Disney to close in weeks

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Relativity Media, a film financier and movie distributor, was rebuffed in a last-minute bid for Maker Studios, the YouTube video creator that had agreed to be bought by The Walt Disney Co. last month.

Privately held Relativity offered cash and stock worth $525 million for Maker, plus up to $500 million in cash and stock if performance targets were met. Relativity also offered stock worth up to $75 million to key Maker talent and executives who did not have a stake in Maker.

Maker said Monday that its board and the majority of its shareholders had approved the sale to Disney and expects that deal to close in the next few weeks.

Maker's deal with Disney was for $500 million in cash plus $450 million for meeting performance goals.