David Ellison may disclose bid for Warner Bros. Discovery in coming days: sources

Core Viewpoint - David Ellison is preparing to submit a merger bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), but the outcome remains uncertain and may face delays or complications [1][2]. Group 1: Bid Details - Ellison's potential bid could be disclosed as soon as this week, with sources indicating that he may offer $20 per share, while WBD CEO David Zaslav is seeking at least $30 per share [3][4]. - The stock price of WBD closed at $17.98 on Tuesday, indicating a gap between Ellison's offer and Zaslav's expectations [3]. Group 2: Financial Backing and Negotiation Dynamics - Ellison is in discussions with Apollo Global Management for financing, as his father, Larry Ellison, may have limited interest in media acquisitions [4][16]. - The negotiation process is expected to be challenging, with Ellison aiming to convince Zaslav's board that WBD needs to be sold due to a lack of other viable buyers [8]. Group 3: Performance and Market Position - Zaslav's leadership has faced criticism, with claims that he has missed earnings projections and that his compensation is disproportionately high compared to employees [10]. - WBD has achieved over $4 billion in revenues this year, supported by successful releases, and has a profitable streaming service, HBO Max, which is the third largest behind Netflix and Amazon [14][18]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Zaslav believes that once WBD is split into two, other major players like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple may emerge as potential bidders for its assets [16]. - The pressure is on Ellison to act quickly to avoid competition from these larger companies, especially given Skydance's financial constraints [16].