Paramount Responds To WBD Concerns About Hostile Bid, Offering New Larry Ellison Financing Guarantee

Core Viewpoint - Paramount has amended its hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to include a personal guarantee from Larry Ellison, supporting a $108 billion proposal, while WBD has accepted a lower bid from Netflix for $82.7 billion [1][2]. Group 1: Bid Details - The financial value of Paramount's offer remains at $30 per share, with an increased breakup fee of $5.8 billion, matching Netflix's offer [3]. - Larry Ellison has committed to providing an irrevocable personal guarantee of $40.4 billion for the equity financing of the offer and any damages claims against Paramount [2][3]. Group 2: Concerns and Criticism - WBD's board expressed concerns regarding the nature of Ellison's involvement, particularly about the trust through which he is participating, which could be subject to manipulation [2]. - Paramount criticized WBD for not raising concerns or demands for a personal guarantee during the 12 weeks leading up to WBD's acceptance of Netflix's offer [4]. Group 3: Market Impact - The competition for WBD is expected to significantly reshape the entertainment landscape, regardless of the outcome, and both bidders are likely to face regulatory scrutiny [4].