NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
The courtship of Pixar Animation Studios is picking up, with AOL Time Warner the latest suitor to enter the fray for the studio behind "Monsters Inc." and "Finding Nemo," according to a published report Monday.
Within the last two months, AOL Time Warner's Warner Bros. unit offered Pixar a deal whereby Pixar would keep virtually all the profits from its films but pay Warner Bros. a 10 percent distribution fee, the New York Post reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
News of the AOL Time Warner offer comes as Pixar and Walt Disney Co. (DIS: Research, Estimates) negotiate to extend their partnership beyond its current 2005 expiration.
Under the current agreement, Disney distributes Pixar films, receives a 12.5 percent distribution fee and also takes a percentage of the film's profit, according to the Post.
Although an AOL Time Warner spokesman told the paper the company no longer is in negotiations, Pixar Chairman Steve Jobs has been shopping the deal to other media conglomerates, such as News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Disney, the paper reported.
AOL Time Warner (AOL: Research, Estimates) is the parent company of CNN/Money.
Pixar (PIXR: Research, Estimates) shares closed at $70.12 Friday.
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