Sydney–Investment firm Mariner Financial Limited has launched a take-over offer for Beyond International Limited, which values the Australian television producer-distributor at $A68.7 million ($US57.8 million). Mariner is offering $A1.15 per share, a 25% premium over Beyond’s last sale price. Beyond International said it would “consider the offer in the context of other indicative proposals it has received” before making an announcement on the bid. Mariner already owns 11% of Beyond and is associated with Ian Ingram, Beyond’s Chairman. If the bid succeeds, Beyond will be held by a private equity fund to be established by Mariner. “Through our existing shareholding in Beyond and the recent due diligence exercise we have undertaken we are confident that the company represents an attractive private equity investment for Mariner,” said Bill Ireland, Managing Director of Mariner. Established in 1984, Beyond is a regular supplier of factual programming to Discovery Networks, National Geographic Channel and Animal Planet, and it has production bases in Washington DC and San Francisco.