Way off topic******
The new quillionaires, better be nice to their spouses!
Wife Of Viacom Chief Seeks $3 Billion In Divorce
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The wife of media titan Sumner Redstone, chairman and CEO of Viacom, whose company is in a $37 billion deal to acquire CBS Inc., has filed for divorce and is seeking $3 billion, her attorney said Sunday.
Phyllis Redstone, Sumner's wife of 52 years, filed for divorce in a Boston court, a Viacom spokesman said. The company issued a statement saying the suit was a personal matter that would have no effect on Viacom's proposed merger with CBS.
Phyllis Redstone filed for divorce in November 1993 in the midst of a high-stakes takeover battle Viacom was waging versus home shopping network QVC for control of Paramount Pictures. Phyllis withdrew the suit three weeks later. Viacom eventually acquired Paramount for about $10 billion.
Irving Helman, Phyllis attorney, confirmed a New York Post front-page report Sunday that she is seeking $3 billion. A CBS spokesman was not immediately available for comment. A Viacom spokesman declined beyond issuing a short statement.
``The Redstone family interests in Viacom's parent company, National Amusements Inc., are structured in such a way that the personal matters between Mr. and Mrs. Redstone will not affect the ownership, control or management of Viacom, nor will they affect the merger with CBS,' the company said in a statement.
George Abrams, Sumner Redstone's long-time attorney said in the Viacom statement that his client, who owns 67 percent of Viacom stock through his holding company National Amusements Inc., will make no further comments about the suit, which has been sealed by the court.
``In the interest of his family, Mr. Redstone chooses not to reply publicly to any allegations, no matter how false or misleading they may be. This is a personal matter which Mr. Redstone intends to resolve in a private way. Mr. Redstone and both his children are united on all matters affecting the family's business interests,' Abrams said. |
