Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance has won the bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, leading to a significant increase in its share price, while Netflix's decision to withdraw from the bidding has also positively impacted its stock [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Paramount Skydance's share price surged nearly 9.5% to $12.24 in premarket trading, following a more than 10% rise the previous day [2]. - Netflix's shares rose nearly 7.2% to $90.68 in premarket trading after ending Thursday with a 2.3% increase [2]. Group 2: Bidding War Dynamics - Netflix's investors expressed relief at the company's decision to withdraw from the bidding war, fearing it would lead to overpayment for Warner's assets [3]. - The bidding war had negatively impacted Netflix's stock, which is down over 31% in the past six months and nearly 23% since the initial deal announcement [3]. Group 3: Financial Implications - By withdrawing, Netflix will receive a $2.8 billion breakup fee from Paramount [4]. - Paramount's stock has also been affected by the bidding war, down more than 40% since the start of October [4]. Group 4: Warner Bros. Discovery Valuation - Warner Bros. Discovery's shares fell over 2% to $28.20 in early trading, with Paramount's bid valuing the company at $111 billion, offering $31 per share [5]. Group 5: Future Plans - Netflix plans to invest approximately $20 billion in quality films and series and will resume its share buyback program following the end of the bidding war [6].

By Harshita Mary Varghese Feb 27 (Reuters) - Netflix ended nearly 14% higher on Friday as investors applauded its decision to exit the race for Warner Bros Discovery, a months-long bidding war with Paramount Skydance for some of Hollywood's most prized assets. Paramount ‌said it will buy Warner Bros in a $110 billion deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of ‌2026. It also paid the $2.80 billion termination fee that Warner Bros owed Netflix, the streaming giant said in a regulatory filing ...

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has accepted a superior offer from Paramount, rejecting Netflix's previous deal, which indicates a significant shift in the competitive landscape of media mergers and acquisitions [1][12]. Group 1: Offer Details - Paramount's new offer includes acquiring WBD for $31 per share in cash, up from a previous offer of $30 per share, reflecting a total equity value of $78 billion and an enterprise value of $108 billion, including net debt [3]. - A daily "ticking fee" of $0.25 per quarter will accrue to WBD shareholders after September 30, 2026, until the deal is finalized, which is an increase from the previous proposal that started accruing later [4]. - Paramount has increased the regulatory termination fee to $7 billion, up from $5.8 billion, in case the transaction does not close due to regulatory issues [5]. Group 2: Financial Commitments - The Ellison Trust is providing a $45.7 billion equity commitment, with Larry Ellison guaranteeing this commitment, including additional equity funding if necessary [7]. - Previous offers included a $43.6 billion equity commitment and $54 billion in debt commitments from major banks [8]. Group 3: Debt Implications - WBD ended 2025 with $33.5 billion in debt, and the Paramount deal could add another $57.7 billion in debt, resulting in a total debt burden exceeding $90 billion, marking it as the largest leveraged buyout in history [9]. Group 4: Cost Savings and Workforce Impact - Paramount has projected $6 billion in cost savings from the merger, which may lead to layoffs, contrasting with Netflix's approach that emphasized workforce preservation [10]. Group 5: Market Position and Future Outlook - Analysts suggest that the merger could transform two smaller media companies into a more significant industry player, provided management can maintain financial flexibility [12].

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery's board is facilitating a competitive bidding process between Paramount and Netflix for the company's assets, with Paramount's latest offer being deemed superior [1][2]. Group 1: Bidding Details - Paramount's revised bid is now $31 per share, up from $30, and includes a "ticking fee" of $0.25 per share starting after September 30 [2]. - Netflix's offer stands at $82.7 billion for the studios-and-streaming division of WBD, while Paramount's bid is for the entire company [1][2]. - Paramount's bid includes a $7 billion termination fee if regulatory issues arise, in addition to the $2.8 billion breakup fee promised by Netflix [3]. Group 2: Board Actions and Timeline - The WBD board has triggered a four-day response period for Netflix to revise its bid following the designation of Paramount's offer as superior [1][3]. - A special shareholder vote on the Netflix deal is scheduled for March 20 [4].

PARAMOUNT COMMENTS ON WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY BOARD'S DETERMINATION OF PARAMOUNT'S PROPOSAL AS SUPERIOR [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationLOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ: PSKY) ("Paramount") confirms that it has been notified by Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD) ("WBD") that WBD's Board of Directors has determined that Paramount's $31 per share, all-cash proposal to acquire WBD is a "Company Superior Proposal" under the terms of W ...

Skip to main contentExclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitivWarner Bros says Paramount bid superior, countdown begins for Netflix responseFebruary 26, 20269:22 PM UTCUpdated agoBy ReutersItem 1 of 2 The Paramount logo is shown on a structure at the Paramount studio lot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 26, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake[1/2]The Paramount logo is shown on a structure at the Paramount studio lot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Cal ...

Stantec (NYSE:STN) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 26, 2026 09:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsChris Murray - Managing Director and Institutional ResearchFrederic Bastien - Head of Industrial ResearchGord Johnston - President and CEOKrista Friesen - Executive Director and Equity ResearchMaxim Sytchev - Managing Director and Research Industrial ProductsSabahat Khan - Managing Director and Global ResearchVito Culmone - EVP and CFOConference Call ParticipantsBenoit Poirier - VP and Industrial Products AnalystIan G ...

Quest Diagnostics Names Benjamin Beauvalot Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and M&A Officer [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationVeteran M&A and transformation leader from Danaher and Patheon joins the Quest Diagnostics executive teamSECAUCUS, N.J., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that Benjamin Beauvalot, a highly accomplished leader with more than two decades of experience in business strategy and t ...

Fourth Quarter HighlightsFourth quarter sales totaled $1.49 billion, up 13.2% driven by acquisitionsCompleted SPI Acquisition Full Year HighlightsCompleted seven acquisitions, adding approximately $1.2 billion in annual salesReturned $434.2 million in capital to stockholders through the repurchase of ~1.4 million shares 2026 OutlookExpects 2026 sales between $5.925 to $6.225 billion andadjusted EBITDA in the range of $1.005 billion to $1.155 billionAcquisitions continue to be top priority for deploying capi ...

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