Did it take you by surprise. By this point. No.It's funny that you ask that. I've spoken with a few different people at Netflix this morning and they all ask me if I was surprised or shocked. And it it's true that they've never done anything like this before.It represents a huge change for the business that, you know, if this deal gets through and I know we may get there, it'll double in size pretty much as soon as they add all these folks. But Netflix has always been a company where you kind of never say n ...

Group 1 - Global mergers and acquisitions are projected to reach over $3 trillion, marking the best year since 2021, driven by significant late-year deals [1][4] - Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for $72 billion highlights the trend of bold M&A activity under a favorable regulatory environment [1][6] - Companies are leveraging record financing packages, with Netflix securing a $59 billion loan, facilitating large-scale transactions [2] Group 2 - Notable deals include Kimberly-Clark's $40 billion acquisition of Kenvue and BlackRock's $40 billion purchase of Aligned Data Centers, reflecting a surge in high-value transactions [3] - US M&A volumes have increased by 53% to nearly $1.8 trillion, approaching the 2021 peak, with 32 deals exceeding $10 billion this year [4][5] - The enterprise value of the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal is approximately $82.7 billion, as firms rush to finalize deals before the holiday slowdown [6]

Global mergers and acquisitions are on pace for their best year since 2021, as a spate of late-year deals pushes deal volumes to well over $3 trillion https://t.co/OXWEOZamOD ...

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is telling his employees not to worry about the company's new mega-merger with Netflix. "This is a big day for Warner Bros.," Zaslav said at a company global town hall, a recording of which was obtained by Business Insider.Netflix plans to buy the Warner Bros. studio and streaming assets in an industry-shaking $72 billion deal, the companies announced on Friday. WBD's TV networks like CNN and TNT will be part of a spinoff in mid-2026, as the media conglomerate had or ...

Chief executives are, constitutionally, a self-confident bunch liable to put the mega in megalomania. How nervous should their latest merger-lust be making shareholders? https://t.co/YtsPRHEWpf ...

Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Brothers and HBO for a whopping $83 billion. So, if approved, the merger would combine one of the most storied studios with the world's largest streaming service. >> The deal includes Warner Brothers massive catalog, including the HBO Max streaming platform.What it doesn't include is the company's networks, including CNN, Discovery, TBS, and HGTV. NBC News entertainment correspondent Khloe Malas joins us now. Good to see you, Chloe.So Netflix beat out both Comcast, our paren ...

Core Insights - Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison initially sought to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) but ultimately lost in a bidding war to Netflix, which acquired WBD for $27.75 per share, valuing the deal at $72 billion [2][4][5] Group 1: Acquisition Dynamics - Paramount's interest in WBD initiated a formal sale process, attracting competitors like Comcast and Netflix, which led to a significant increase in WBD's share value, doubling from $12.54 to over $25 [3][8] - Netflix's acquisition of WBD includes plans to separate its pay-TV networks before the deal closes, enhancing its market position [4][6] - Paramount's legal team has accused WBD of favoring Netflix in the sale process, claiming that their all-cash offer of $30 per share was not adequately considered [13][16] Group 2: Financial Implications - Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav stands to gain over $554 million from the Netflix deal, given his substantial shareholdings and options [7] - The sale process has resulted in significant financial benefits for WBD shareholders, with stock prices reflecting a return to levels seen prior to the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery [8][9] - Paramount has argued that acquiring the entire company would provide tax efficiencies for shareholders compared to a partial acquisition [16] Group 3: Future Considerations - Paramount is contemplating a new bid for WBD, potentially exceeding its previous offer, which could lead to further financial gains for WBD shareholders [17] - Netflix's bid includes a $5.8 billion break-up fee in case of regulatory issues, while Paramount's offer included a $5 billion break-up fee [16][17]

Core Viewpoint - Wells Fargo & Co has secured a co-advisory role in Netflix Inc.'s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., highlighting the bank's strategy to enhance its investment banking presence and secure significant M&A mandates [1][3]. Group 1: Deal Details - Wells Fargo is providing a $59 billion bridge loan for the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, in collaboration with BNP Paribas and HSBC, marking the largest loan commitment by a single bank for an investment-grade bridge facility at $29.5 billion [2]. - The total enterprise value of the acquisition is approximately $82.7 billion, which includes debt [2]. Group 2: Strategic Positioning - This achievement is part of Wells Fargo's broader strategy to build a competitive investment banking franchise to rival leading firms like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs [3][4]. - Under CEO Fernando Rivas, the bank aims to leverage its status as a major U.S. business lender to gain advisory roles in M&A transactions [4]. Group 3: Market Impact - With the Netflix-Warner Bros. transaction, Wells Fargo has advised on two of the largest M&A deals of 2025, including a $72 billion deal for Norfolk Southern Corp. and other significant transactions [5]. - This success has propelled Wells Fargo to the No. 4 position in M&A advisory rankings, up from No. 6 [5]. - Other banks involved in the deal, such as Moelis & Co. and Allen & Co., have also seen improvements in their advisory rankings as a result of this transaction [6].

Warner Bros. Discovery plans to continue with its previously planned break-up, which will involve spinning off its cable TV channels including CNN and TBS into a standalone business, leaving the remaining studios that make TV and movies and the company's streaming services to be acquired by Netflix for $27.75 per share. The companies expect the deal to close in the third quarter of next year. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Friday that combining with Warner Bros. Discovery will help both companies "define ...

Core Insights - Netflix has announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. with an enterprise value of $82.7 billion, marking a significant move in the streaming industry [1][2] - The deal includes HBO Max and the HBO studio, enhancing Netflix's content library with popular franchises like DC Comics, "Game of Thrones," and "Harry Potter" [2] - Netflix's investment of $72 billion surpasses Warner Bros.' market valuation of $60 billion, indicating the scale of the acquisition [3] Industry Context - The merger is one of the largest in Hollywood's history and positions Netflix to solidify its leading market position [2] - Warner Bros. Discovery had been struggling with debt and disappointing streaming growth, prompting the sale [7] - The acquisition is expected to finalize in the third quarter of 2026, following Warner Bros. Discovery's separation from Discovery Global [7][8] Regulatory Considerations - The merger may face antitrust scrutiny, with concerns raised by senators regarding potential political favoritism and corruption [4] - An anonymous group has reportedly urged Congress to oppose Netflix's acquisition offer, reflecting industry pushback [4]