Core Viewpoint - A private equity firm linked to Jared Kushner has withdrawn its support for Paramount's acquisition bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which is now competing with Netflix's offer for Warner [1][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Bids - Paramount has launched a rival bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $30 per share, surpassing Netflix's offer of $27.75 [1]. - Warner Bros. Discovery, a major player in Hollywood, owns significant assets including HBO and the Harry Potter franchise, making its acquisition a pivotal move in the streaming wars [2]. Group 2: Strategic Decisions - Paramount's decision to bypass Warner's management was due to their lack of engagement with previous offers [3]. - The new offer includes the entire Warner portfolio, including assets like CNN, which Netflix's bid does not cover [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Considerations - Paramount believes its offer may face less regulatory scrutiny under the Trump administration compared to the Netflix deal, which the president has indicated could be problematic due to market share concerns [4]. - The withdrawal of Kushner's financial backing diminishes Paramount's potential advantage in winning over Trump [4]. Group 4: Financial Backing - Despite the withdrawal of Kushner's firm, Paramount's bid is still supported by sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar [5]. - Paramount is now led by David Ellison, whose family has connections to Trump, although Trump has criticized the Ellisons recently [6].
Jared Kushner pulls out of Paramount’s hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery