Paramount Is Launching a Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. Is PSKY Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold Here?

Core Argument - Paramount Skydance is making a direct bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $30 per share in cash, valuing the company at $108.4 billion, after being excluded from negotiations with Netflix [1][2] - Paramount claims its all-cash offer is worth $17.6 billion more to shareholders compared to Netflix's offer of $27.75 per share [2] Financing and Support - Paramount has secured financing from the Ellison family, RedBird Capital, major banks like Bank of America and Citi, and backing from Middle Eastern investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund [3] - Affinity Partners, linked to Jared Kushner, is also involved in the bid [3] Market Reaction - Following the announcement, shares of Paramount increased by 9%, Warner Bros. rose by 4%, while Netflix shares fell by 3% [3] Cost Savings and Offer Details - Paramount expects to achieve $6 billion in annual cost savings and argues that Warner Bros. Discovery ignored a superior offer made on December 4 [4] - The tender offer will remain open for 20 business days, with Warner Bros. required to respond within 10 days [4] Valuation and Regulatory Considerations - Paramount argues that Netflix's offer is undervalued when considering the debt-heavy cable networks, estimating those networks at $1 per share, effectively lowering Netflix's offer to around $28.75 [5] - Paramount anticipates regulatory approval for its bid within 12 months, compared to a longer timeline for Netflix's acquisition [5] Industry Positioning - Paramount is framing this bid as a strategic move for Hollywood's future, planning to release over 30 theatrical films annually and positioning itself as a stronger competitor against streaming giants [6] - The company argues that a Netflix-Warner Bros. merger would control 43% of global streaming subscribers, which it deems anticompetitive [6]