Warner Bros. Discovery said it will restart deal talks with Paramount, setting the stage for a potential bidding war with its preferred suitor, Netflix https://t.co/qLJ8VqECv0 ...

Warner Bros agrees to temporarily reopen sale negotiations with rival Hollywood studio Paramount, setting the stage for a potential second bidding war with Netflix https://t.co/LVh0gaEhx6 ...

The Warner Bros. Discovery board sets a seven-day window for Paramount to make its “best and final” takeover offer. https://t.co/pOZBF3ExiJ ...

Group 1 - Paramount has made multiple hostile takeover offers for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), with the latest offer at $30 per share in cash, raising questions about why the bid has not been increased [1][6] - WBD has entered negotiations with the David Ellison company, which has verbally agreed to raise its bid to $31 or higher if discussions proceed [2][3] - WBD's board has communicated that the $31 offer is not the best and final proposal from PSKY, indicating potential for further negotiations [3] Group 2 - Netflix has provided WBD a waiver to engage with PSKY until February 23, allowing discussions to clarify the proposal, which is expected to exceed $31 per share [4][7] - WBD remains committed to its merger agreement with Netflix, which is valued at $27.75 per share in cash, and has scheduled a special shareholder meeting for March 20, 2026, to vote on this merger [5] - The Netflix deal includes Warner Bros. Studios and streaming assets, while linear television under Discovery Global will be spun off into a separate public company [5]

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros Discovery has rejected Paramount Skydance's $30-a-share hostile bid, favoring its existing agreement with Netflix for the sale of its businesses, including HBO Max and the "Harry Potter" franchise [1][3]. Group 1: Bid Details - Paramount has informally proposed a higher bid of $31 per share, which has prompted Warner Bros to consider the offer, although it still prefers the Netflix deal [2][3]. - Paramount has until February 23 to submit a new offer, which Netflix can match under the merger agreement terms [3]. Group 2: Company Responses - Warner Bros' board has expressed that Paramount's proposal is unlikely to result in a superior transaction compared to the Netflix merger, reaffirming their commitment to the Netflix deal [3][4]. - Paramount has acknowledged the seven-day offer period and plans to continue its tender offer while opposing the Netflix merger [4]. Group 3: Financial Implications - A successful acquisition would grant the buyer ownership of Warner Bros' extensive film and television library, which includes iconic titles like "Casablanca" and "Friends" [5]. - Paramount's current offer values the entire company at $108.4 billion, while Netflix's offer for its studio and streaming businesses is $27.75 per share, totaling $82.7 billion [6].

Larry and David Ellison are getting another shot to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. The media conglomerate announced Tuesday that it will let the Ellisons make another bid for the company over the next week, with two key stipulations: Their offer has to be more than $31 for each share of WBD, and it will be the last time the Ellisons get to make a formal pitch to the WBD board.WBD's announcement reopens a deal that was theoretically closed last December, when it agreed to sell most of itself to Netflix in an $ ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market experienced a quiet finish with the S&P 500 rising 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 32 points (0.1%) and the Nasdaq composite also gained 0.1% [1] Company Performances - Paramount Skydance led the market with a 4.9% increase after Warner Bros. Discovery allowed it to submit its "best and final" bid to acquire the entertainment company, competing against Netflix [2] - General Mills saw a significant decline of 7% after expressing concerns about customer unease and cutting its profit forecast for 2026, indicating sharper declines than previously expected [3] - Genuine Parts reported weaker quarterly results than analysts anticipated, leading to a 14.6% drop in its stock. The company plans to split into two publicly traded entities focusing on auto and industrial parts [4][5] Industry Insights - Recent surveys indicate weak confidence among U.S. households, impacted by persistent inflation, a sluggish job market, and tariff concerns [4] - Big Tech stocks, including Alphabet, faced notable declines, with Alphabet falling 1.2%. Nvidia's stock fluctuated between being a significant market weight and a strength [5][6] - The market's stability is contingent on the performance of Big Tech companies, as investors exhibit a "sell first/ask questions later" mentality, particularly in the context of potential AI disruptions [6]

Core Viewpoint - Confidence is increasing within Paramount Skydance that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will terminate its deal with Netflix soon, potentially reopening a bidding war for the company [1] Group 1: WBD's Deal with Netflix - WBD is under significant pressure to consider Paramount Skydance's enhanced offer, which includes a breakup fee to exit the Netflix deal [2] - Investors are concerned that the nearly finalized $72 billion deal with Netflix faces substantial regulatory challenges and question its valuation [3] - There are indications that WBD may be leaking information about a new bidding process to protect itself from litigation while potentially reverting to the Netflix offer [5] Group 2: Regulatory and Valuation Concerns - The regulatory landscape poses a significant hurdle for the Netflix deal, with any Department of Justice antitrust review expected to take at least six months [6] - The valuation of WBD's cable operation spin-off is under scrutiny, with investors doubting it will achieve the promised $3 per share, leading to concerns about the overall valuation of the Netflix deal [9][10] - The potential for Netflix to gain significant pricing power by controlling major streaming services raises alarms among regulators, complicating the deal further [11]

>> LIVE FROM DUBAI, THIS IS BLOOMBERG "DAYBREAK EUROPE. " YOUR TOP SERIES, BENIGN U.S. INFLATION REINFORCES BETS ON MORE FED RATE CUTS IN. JAPAN, THE YEN SLIDES AT THE ECONOMY BARELY GREW IN THE LATEST QUARTER. MARKO RUBIO HEADS TO HUNGARY. HE SAYS EUROPE’S FATE IS INTERTWINED WITH THE U.S. BUT ACCUSES THE CONTINENT FROM DRIFTING FROM SHARED WESTERN VALES. AND WARNER BROTHERS IS CONSIDERING REOPENING SELL TALKS WITH PARAMOUNT. WE HAVE BENIGN INFLATION PRINT FOR THE U.S. ON FRIDAY. MANY MARKETS ARE CLOSED TO ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros Discovery Inc. is considering reopening sale discussions with Paramount Skydance Corp. following an amended offer from Paramount, which addresses several concerns raised by Warner Bros [1][2]. Group 1: Paramount's Offer - Paramount's amended terms include covering a $2.8 billion fee owed to Netflix if Warner Bros. terminates their agreement and offering to backstop Warner Bros.' debt refinancing [2]. - Paramount has proposed to compensate Warner Bros. shareholders if the deal does not close by December 31, indicating confidence in swift regulatory approval [2]. - Paramount's CEO has stated that the current offer is not the final bid, suggesting potential for further increases in the offer [5]. Group 2: Warner Bros. Board Considerations - The Warner Bros. board is evaluating whether Paramount's offer could lead to a superior deal, which may trigger a bidding war with Netflix [3]. - Despite concerns about Paramount's offer, this is the first time the board has considered it could prompt Netflix to increase its bid [4]. - Shareholder pressure is mounting for the board to engage with Paramount, as some shareholders believe it could lead to a better outcome [4][10]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Warner Bros. has a binding agreement with Netflix for a sale at $27.75 per share, while Paramount is appealing directly to Warner Bros. shareholders with a $30-a-share tender offer [5][6]. - Both Paramount and Netflix are cautious about spending too much, with Netflix shares having declined over 40% from their June peak [7]. - Paramount initiated the auction for Warner Bros. with an unsolicited offer last year and has been actively courting regulators and shareholders [9].