Reese Witherspoon and Mediawan Partner to Buy Back Hello Sunshine from Candle Media

Actress and producer Reese Witherspoon is purchasing Hello Sunshine media company back from Candle Media through a partnership with Mediawan. The financial details of the deal have not been made public yet. Witherspoon, the founder of Hello Sunshine, expressed her belief in the company's vision and her commitment to its future, stating that Mediawan's focus on creators aligns with her own.

She highlighted that Mediawan has established itself as a global, independent studio, putting creators first, which resonated with her vision for Hello Sunshine. Witherspoon also mentioned that joining Mediawan would provide Hello Sunshine with access to international formats and a global creative community, strengthening its position in the media landscape.

The acquisition of Hello Sunshine by Mediawan is part of the latter's strategy to create a platform of creative talent by pooling together independent production companies under one roof. This move will preserve the creative independence and distinct identities of each company while enabling them to leverage shared resources and scale.

Hello Sunshine's addition to Mediawan's portfolio brings a distinctive female-forward creative brand, a strong track record in premium entertainment, and Reese's Book Club, which continues to engage millions of fans worldwide. The deal follows Witherspoon's initial sale of Hello Sunshine to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs' Candle Media for an estimated $900 million.

Moelis & Company served as the financial advisor to Candle Media, while Kirkland & Ellis represented both Candle Media and Hello Sunshine. Latham & Watkins represented Witherspoon, and Gibson Dunn represented Mediawan. The Mediawan partnership allows Hello Sunshine to tap into a broader pool of talent, IP, and resources, all while preserving the companies' individual identities.