Warner Bros. Discovery(US:WBD) New York Postยท2025-10-24 16:39Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav could receive approximately $500 million if the company is sold at the price offered by Paramount Skydance, highlighting the ongoing takeover battle in the media industry [1][3]. Group 1: Financial Implications - Paramount Skydance has proposed a purchase price of $23.50 per share, valuing Warner Bros. Discovery at about $56 billion [3]. - Zaslav's potential payout would come from 21 million shares that would vest immediately upon the sale [1][11]. - Zaslav has received a total compensation of $470 million since 2019, including a $200 million award linked to his contract renewal prior to the merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia [5]. Group 2: Company Performance and Market Position - Warner Bros. Discovery's shares have decreased roughly 60% from their 2021 levels, although speculation about a takeover has recently boosted their value [6]. - The company has achieved record-breaking box office results and a significant rebound in streaming subscriptions, with its Max platform reaching approximately 125.7 million subscribers globally [12][11]. - Warner Bros. became the first studio to surpass $4 billion in global ticket sales this year [12]. Group 3: Strategic Moves and Bidding Process - Warner Bros. Discovery has received unsolicited interest from multiple parties and is exploring strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, effectively putting the company on the auction block [7]. - Zaslav has reportedly rejected three private offers from various bidders, including those backed by billionaire Larry Ellison and private equity firms [9][17]. - Zaslav is seeking at least $30 per share for the company, which would value it at over $70 billion, significantly above recent bids [8].