Robert Fishman is an analyst at Moffet Nathansson and he really called this all the way back in March writing that WBD Warner Brothers Discovery could be a ripe target for the then Paramount Warner Brothers stock is up about 75% since then. Robert, so good call there. Glad to have you on.Do you see the do you see this deal actually happening. Well, it's definitely looking that way. Um, thank you for all of that.So what we can say is when we when we saw at the beginning of the year um the upgrade that we did ...

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) - Goldman Sachs' TMT co-heads argue that the surge in technology M&A is just beginning [1] - Paramount is considering a move for Warner Bros Discovery [1] Cryptocurrency - The Winklevoss twins are making a significant debut in the crypto space [1]

Got a new media mega deal may be in the works. Paramount Sky Dance preparing to make a bid to buy Warner Brothers Discovery. It follows Sky Dance's merger with Paramount, of course, just weeks ago.Let's bring in SPG Global Principal and former Hulu and Netflix executive Simon Gallagher. Simon, thanks for the help today. Good to see you. Good to see you.Why do you think they're were acting with such elacrity here. Well, there was some concern that if they didn't move quickly, uh, Warner Brothers Discovery, a ...

Uh guys, I did want to circle back to, you know, towards the top of our hour. Warner Brothers shares continuing uh an incredible march higher, up another 10%. And Paramount, this is even perhaps more in some ways more curious.As I explained earlier, if as is expected, the bid when it comes for Warner Brothers is largely cash, companies have to get it somewhere. Now, they can finance to a certain extent, but the expectation as well is there's going to be a lot more equity put into Paramount to help them then ...

In this issue of Forbes Daily:- Who are the highest-paid TV hosts of 2025?- Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery skyrocketed 29% Thursday. Here's why- How Trump’s tariffs continue to impact pricesRead more: https://t.co/sXxQDqd2Gs https://t.co/9rr86hXh51 ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery is preparing for a potential bidding war, with Paramount Skydance planning a multibillion-dollar takeover offer, while CEO David Zaslav is actively seeking interest from other media and tech companies [1][2]. Group 1: Company Strategy and Market Position - Zaslav aims to increase Warner Bros. Discovery's stock price to approximately $40 per share, up from a recent close of just above $16, which would elevate the company's market value to around $40 billion [4]. - The company plans to split into two publicly traded entities, one focusing on streaming and studios, and the other on cable networks, with the spinoff expected in April [6]. - Prior to the buyout interest, Warner Bros. Discovery shares had been underperforming as Zaslav concentrated on cost-cutting measures and reducing $35 billion in debt [8]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - David Ellison's Paramount Skydance is reportedly preparing an all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has led to a nearly 30% surge in the company's stock price following the news [6][10]. - Other tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Netflix are also being considered as potential bidders, as they are actively expanding their content offerings [9]. - The regulatory environment is perceived to be more favorable for mergers under the current administration, which could facilitate potential deals in the media sector [11][15]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics - The media landscape is shifting, with cash-rich tech companies increasingly seeking content to enhance their streaming services, creating a competitive environment for acquisitions [9]. - Jay Penske has shown interest in acquiring CNN, indicating ongoing consolidation trends within the media industry [7].

A Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger could cost thousands of LA jobs and hurt an industry still recovering from the pandemic and 2023 strikes https://t.co/Kun19a9ntH ...

Core Insights - Paramount Skydance is preparing a cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, backed by the Ellison family, which includes David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, and his father, Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle [2][3][7] - Warner Bros. Discovery shares surged 29% following the initial report and increased by another 10% shortly after the market opened, while Paramount Skydance shares rose over 3% [3][7] - The bid aims to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its cable networks and movie studio, although no formal offer has been made yet [3][4] Company Developments - Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans in June to split into two companies: one focusing on its studios and HBO Max streaming service, and the other on its cable channels like CNN and TNT [4][7] - The move by Paramount is seen as a strategy to pre-empt a potential bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery's studios and streaming services [4][7] - Paramount Skydance was formed after David Ellison's Skydance Media completed an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global [4]

Potential Acquisition of Warner Brothers - Paramount is reportedly preparing a bid to acquire Warner Brothers, with the bid potentially arriving as soon as next week [1][2] - The bid is expected to be largely or entirely in cash, as the Warner Brothers board is unlikely to favor a deal heavily weighted in Paramount stock [3][4] - A bid in the low 20s (presumably USD per share) comprised largely of cash could attract the Warner Brothers board's attention [4] Financial Considerations - Both Paramount and Warner Brothers are highly leveraged, with leverage ratios exceeding three times [5] - To finance an all-cash bid, Paramount would likely need a significant cash infusion, potentially from Larry Ellison and partners like RedBird, which could dilute Paramount shareholders [6][7] - Cost synergies resulting from a merger between Paramount and Warner Brothers could allow for additional leverage, despite both companies already being over three times leveraged [17] Strategic Implications - Warner Brothers is moving forward with a split into its global networks business (owning 20% of the other part of the business) and its streaming/studio business, expected around April of next year [7][8] - Paramount may be moving quickly to make a bid before the split, to avoid competition from larger tech companies like Netflix, Apple, and Amazon for the streaming/studio assets [11] - If Warner Brothers receives a bid from Paramount, it may need to solicit offers from other potential buyers like Netflix, Apple, and Amazon to ensure it is maximizing shareholder value [9] Regulatory and Competitive Landscape - Regulatory approval is expected if Paramount makes an offer accepted by the Warner Brothers board [23] - Comcast is unlikely to bid for Paramount while spinning off its cable networks [24]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount is preparing a bid to acquire Warner Brothers, which may be announced soon, likely in cash rather than stock [1][2][3]. Bid Structure - The bid is expected to be primarily cash, as Warner Brothers' board is not inclined towards a stock-heavy offer [3][4][21]. - A potential bid price could be in the low $20s per share, which may attract Warner Brothers' board if it is cash-based [4][19]. Financial Considerations - Both Paramount and Warner Brothers are highly leveraged, with debt levels exceeding three times their earnings, raising questions about the feasibility of financing the bid [5][17]. - Significant cash infusion would be required from investors like Larry Ellison and Red Bird, which could lead to substantial dilution for Paramount shareholders [6][7]. Strategic Timing - Paramount's move to bid now may be strategic to avoid competition from larger tech companies like Apple and Amazon after Warner Brothers completes its planned split into separate business units [8][10][11]. - The split is expected to occur around April next year, potentially making Warner Brothers more attractive to buyers focused on studios and streaming [7][10]. Auction Considerations - Warner Brothers may need to consider an auction process if the bid is received, exploring interest from other major players in the industry [9][21]. - There is speculation about whether companies like Netflix, Apple, or Amazon would be interested in acquiring Warner Brothers as a whole, especially after the split [10][16]. Regulatory Environment - There is an expectation that if Paramount's bid is accepted, regulatory approvals could be obtained without significant hurdles [23][25]. - The current market dynamics and regulatory landscape may favor a swift transaction if the bid aligns with Warner Brothers' interests [24][25].