Disney, Celador Rest; 'Millionaire' Case Goes to Jury (The Wrap)

Celador, which first filed suit in 2004, alleges that Disney, ABC, Buena Vista Television and Valleycrest Production conducted a series of slippery deals and secret arrangements that saw the “Millionaire” creators left short hundreds of millions in expected revenues and profits from the hugely successful American version of the game show...
Judge Virginia Phillips called the case a “dispute about a contract” when the trial started almost a month ago In the process, however, the trial has become an investigation into the often shadowy world of Hollywood accounting.

Ah, the shady accounting of Hollywood - I just love it! Almost as much as I love Ben Silverman, who was the WMA agent in the middle of this deal. (That is, not at all.)
Read the full article here.

CAA's Bryan Lourd: Yes, we're talking with investors (LA Times)

In remarks made during the Financial Times' Business of Luxury Summit in Beverly Hills, CAA managing partner Bryan Lourd confirmed published reports that the agency is meeting with outside firms, which he declined to identify. According to the New York Times, the agency is in discussions with private equity and buyout giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and investment firm TPG Capital. ...

Lourd said [CAA's] growth -- including wooing top sports agents such as Tom Condon and Ken Kremer -- has been self-financed from internal funds. ... "I'm told that's unusual. I'm told there's a better way," Lourd said during the morning keynote.

Lourd said the discussions might not lead to a transaction, but CAA is interested in bringing smart people together in a room to discuss financial options. In the event that CAA brings in outside investors, Lourd said he and other top agents, Kevin Huvane, Richard Lovett and David O'Connor, would remain with the agency.

"That's not accurate that we'd ever turn over control of our company or leave," Lourd said. "We all love it."

OK, first of all, there's a "Business of Luxury" summit? I can't even imagine what goes on there, though I'd like to try. Whatever - read the rest of the article here.