Paramount’s Mideast backing likely runs deeper than $24 billion

Core Insights - A consortium of Middle Eastern funds has committed $24 billion to support Paramount Skydance Corp.'s acquisition bid for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. This involvement may be more extensive when considering their connections to private equity firms backing the bid [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Details - The Saudi Public Investment Fund, Qatar Investment Authority, and Abu Dhabi's L'imad Holding Co. are the primary investors in this hostile offer [2]. - Apollo Global Management Inc. is providing up to $54 billion in financing for the Paramount bid, with Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Co. having a longstanding relationship with Apollo [3]. - The Gulf investors plan to invest through non-voting equity, foregoing governance rights to avoid needing approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US [6]. Group 2: Broader Trends - Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds collectively invested $82 billion last year, representing over 60% of all sovereign wealth fund investments, as they seek to diversify their economies beyond oil [7]. - The potential acquisition of Warner Bros. would enhance the soft power of Middle Eastern investors, granting them stakes in significant assets like Warner Bros. studios and HBO [8]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - This collaboration marks a rare instance of funds from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar joining forces on a single transaction, highlighting either the attractiveness of the deal or the influence of a third party like Affinity Partners [9].