Core Viewpoint - Larry Ellison has provided a personal guarantee of over $40 billion for Paramount Skydance's attempt to gain control of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) amid a corporate battle over the entertainment giant [1][2] Group 1: Corporate Actions - WBD has urged its shareholders to reject a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid from Paramount, which is controlled by the Ellisons [1] - WBD has agreed to sell its movie studios, HBO cable network, and streaming service to Netflix for $82.7 billion [1] - Paramount has claimed that its bid for the entire company, which includes CNN, Cartoon Network, and the Discovery channel, is superior to Netflix's offer [3] Group 2: Financial Commitments - Larry Ellison has agreed to personally backstop $40.4 billion in equity financing for Paramount's proposed deal [2] - Paramount's offer of $30 per share is fully financed and is presented as the superior option for maximizing value for WBD shareholders [4] Group 3: Strategic Positioning - Paramount aims to address WBD's need for financial flexibility and has denied that the Netflix offer is superior [3] - David Ellison stated that Paramount's acquisition would enhance content production, theatrical output, and consumer choice, benefiting all WBD stakeholders [5]
Larry Ellison provides personal guarantee for Paramount takeover of Warner Bros Discovery
The Guardian·2025-12-22 13:52