Ellison's Paramount makes $108B cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, escalating buyout fight with Netflix
Yahoo Finance·2025-12-08 16:26

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance has made a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $30 per share, totaling approximately $108.4 billion, aiming to surpass Netflix's recent acquisition deal for Warner Bros. [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - Paramount's bid includes the acquisition of all Warner Bros. assets, while Netflix's deal involves a cash-and-stock arrangement valued at $72 billion, or about $27.75 per share, with Warner Bros. shareholders receiving $23.35 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix stock [2] - Paramount's current offer is nearly double its previous proposals, which included a $58 billion offer at $20 per share that was rejected by Warner Bros. [5][6] Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the announcement of Paramount's bid, its stock rose over 6%, and Warner Bros. stock increased by as much as 7% [1] Group 3: Regulatory Considerations - The tentative deal between Warner Bros. and Netflix is subject to federal antitrust review, with concerns raised about the potential market share control of a combined Netflix and Warner Bros., which could dominate roughly one-third of US streaming activity [3][4] - President Trump has indicated potential antitrust issues regarding the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, suggesting that regulatory opposition could be significant [4][5] Group 4: Financing Strategy - Paramount's new offer aims to simplify its financing structure, moving away from a complex web of investments and commitments that characterized its earlier proposals [7] - The financing for the initial offers was to be sourced from various investors, including David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, as well as RedBird Capital and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds [8]