Shari Redstone banker’s ties to Warren Buffett raise scrutiny amid Paramount sale talks

Shari Redstone’s investment banker has pulled some unusual moves as he explores a possible sale of her Paramount media empire — and it’s adding to the gossip surrounding the closely watched deal talks.

Last May, National Amusements — a holding company that controls 10% of the stock and 80% of the voting shares of Paramount Global, owner of CBS and cable networks like Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV — got a $125 million preferred-stock investment from BDT & MSD Capital Partners.

“BDT” stands for Byron David Trott — a former Goldman Sachs executive who has long been most famous for being Warren Buffett’s banker. (More on that in a moment.)

Trott also is advising Redstone on Paramount’s options, sources say.

Financiers say it’s worth noting that at Goldman, Trott wouldn’t typically have been permitted to do that preferred-stock deal, which carries a 7.75% interest rate.

That’s because Goldman, like most lenders, sees possible conflicts of interest arising from investing in a client while at the same time advising the client.