People Inc. withdraws bid to acquire MGM Resorts
People Inc. withdrew its proposal this week to acquire MGM Resorts International, leaving the resort operator to continue as a standalone public company. People Inc. made a go-private bid in June valuing MGM at more than $18 billion, and a special committee of MGM's board evaluated the proposed transaction over several months. Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Inc., said the mix of ingredients did not come together as hoped, but the company still holds 66.8 million MGM shares, roughly 27%, expressed total confidence in MGM's management and prospects, and remains open to a strategic transaction. MGM board chairman Paul Salem said the board remains excited to lead MGM as a…