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Warner Bros Discovery Poised to Reject Paramount's $108.4 Billion Hostile Bid Despite Larry Ellison's Personal Backing

MarketDash Editorial Team
9 hours ago
Warner Bros Discovery's board is expected to turn down Paramount Skydance's sweetened $108.4 billion hostile takeover offer, even with Oracle founder Larry Ellison personally guaranteeing the deal. The company appears to favor a less risky Netflix merger instead, citing financing uncertainties and regulatory concerns.

When your dad is one of the world's richest people and personally guarantees a deal, you'd think that would seal the transaction. Apparently not in this case.

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) is reportedly set to reject Paramount Skydance's (PSKY) sweetened hostile takeover bid worth $108.4 billion, according to Reuters, even after billionaire Larry Ellison stepped up to personally guarantee the financing. That's right: the founder of Oracle Corp (ORCL) himself is backing his son's play, and Warner Bros' board is still expected to say thanks, but no thanks.

A Personal Guarantee Still Isn't Enough

The Warner Bros Discovery board hasn't made a final decision yet, but they're expected to meet next week to discuss the bid. And if sources are right, that meeting won't go Paramount's way.

Paramount, led by CEO David Ellison (Larry's son), tried to address the board's concerns by getting his father to personally guarantee the equity portion of the deal. That's a pretty significant gesture when your dad is worth tens of billions. But here's the thing: Paramount didn't actually raise its $30-per-share all-cash offer. Instead, the company extended its tender deadline and increased its regulatory reverse termination fee.

Apparently, those tweaks aren't cutting it for Warner Bros' board, which has been skeptical of this deal from the start.

Netflix Looks Like the Safer Bet

If Warner Bros turns down Paramount's bid, it'll stay on course to pursue a competing deal with Netflix Inc (NFLX) valued at around $82.7 billion. Yes, that's about $25 billion less in headline value, but sometimes the number that looks smaller on paper is actually the better deal.

Analysts have pointed out that the Netflix offer comes with clearer financing and fewer execution risks. In the world of mega-mergers, certainty is worth a lot. You know what you're getting, and you're not left wondering if the money will actually materialize when it's time to close.

There's also the matter of a $2.8 billion breakup fee that Warner Bros would owe Netflix if it walks away from that deal. Harris Oakmark, the company's fifth-largest shareholder, has already said publicly that Paramount's revised proposal isn't sufficient and wouldn't fully offset that penalty. That's a pretty clear signal about where major investors stand.

The Regulatory Headache Nobody Wants

Paramount has argued that its bid would actually face fewer regulatory hurdles than the Netflix deal, and that combining two major Hollywood studios and television operators would create a media giant even larger than Walt Disney Co (DIS). That sounds impressive until you realize that "larger than Disney" is exactly the kind of thing that makes regulators nervous.

Warner Bros' board has previously urged shareholders to reject Paramount's bid, pointing to financing uncertainty and insufficient guarantees. Those concerns haven't gone away just because Larry Ellison put his name on the line.

Then there's the political dimension. Concerns over media consolidation are running high right now, with lawmakers from both parties raising objections. President Donald Trump has indicated he plans to weigh in on the potential acquisition, which adds another layer of uncertainty. And Senator Elizabeth Warren has warned that the Justice Department's review of the competing bids could be influenced by political favoritism.

When you're trying to close a deal worth over $100 billion, the last thing you want is political interference from multiple directions. The Netflix deal might be worth less on paper, but it comes with significantly less drama.

Where Things Stand Now

Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the matter. The board is expected to make its decision next week, and all signs point to rejection.

In after-hours trading, the market was fairly muted on the news: Netflix shares were down 0.30%, Paramount shares slipped 0.074%, and Warner Bros Discovery declined by 0.78%.

For what it's worth, Warner Bros Discovery has been showing a strong price trend in the short, medium, and long term, suggesting that investors are reasonably comfortable with the company's current strategic direction, presumably including the Netflix deal.

Sometimes in business, the bigger offer isn't the better offer. And sometimes even a billionaire's personal guarantee isn't enough to overcome concerns about financing, regulatory hurdles, and political headaches. Warner Bros' board appears to have decided that a bird in the hand (Netflix) is worth two in the bush (Paramount), even if those two birds are personally backed by Larry Ellison.

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Warner Bros Discovery Poised to Reject Paramount's $108.4 Billion Hostile Bid Despite Larry Ellison's Personal Backing

MarketDash Editorial Team
9 hours ago
Warner Bros Discovery's board is expected to turn down Paramount Skydance's sweetened $108.4 billion hostile takeover offer, even with Oracle founder Larry Ellison personally guaranteeing the deal. The company appears to favor a less risky Netflix merger instead, citing financing uncertainties and regulatory concerns.

When your dad is one of the world's richest people and personally guarantees a deal, you'd think that would seal the transaction. Apparently not in this case.

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) is reportedly set to reject Paramount Skydance's (PSKY) sweetened hostile takeover bid worth $108.4 billion, according to Reuters, even after billionaire Larry Ellison stepped up to personally guarantee the financing. That's right: the founder of Oracle Corp (ORCL) himself is backing his son's play, and Warner Bros' board is still expected to say thanks, but no thanks.

A Personal Guarantee Still Isn't Enough

The Warner Bros Discovery board hasn't made a final decision yet, but they're expected to meet next week to discuss the bid. And if sources are right, that meeting won't go Paramount's way.

Paramount, led by CEO David Ellison (Larry's son), tried to address the board's concerns by getting his father to personally guarantee the equity portion of the deal. That's a pretty significant gesture when your dad is worth tens of billions. But here's the thing: Paramount didn't actually raise its $30-per-share all-cash offer. Instead, the company extended its tender deadline and increased its regulatory reverse termination fee.

Apparently, those tweaks aren't cutting it for Warner Bros' board, which has been skeptical of this deal from the start.

Netflix Looks Like the Safer Bet

If Warner Bros turns down Paramount's bid, it'll stay on course to pursue a competing deal with Netflix Inc (NFLX) valued at around $82.7 billion. Yes, that's about $25 billion less in headline value, but sometimes the number that looks smaller on paper is actually the better deal.

Analysts have pointed out that the Netflix offer comes with clearer financing and fewer execution risks. In the world of mega-mergers, certainty is worth a lot. You know what you're getting, and you're not left wondering if the money will actually materialize when it's time to close.

There's also the matter of a $2.8 billion breakup fee that Warner Bros would owe Netflix if it walks away from that deal. Harris Oakmark, the company's fifth-largest shareholder, has already said publicly that Paramount's revised proposal isn't sufficient and wouldn't fully offset that penalty. That's a pretty clear signal about where major investors stand.

The Regulatory Headache Nobody Wants

Paramount has argued that its bid would actually face fewer regulatory hurdles than the Netflix deal, and that combining two major Hollywood studios and television operators would create a media giant even larger than Walt Disney Co (DIS). That sounds impressive until you realize that "larger than Disney" is exactly the kind of thing that makes regulators nervous.

Warner Bros' board has previously urged shareholders to reject Paramount's bid, pointing to financing uncertainty and insufficient guarantees. Those concerns haven't gone away just because Larry Ellison put his name on the line.

Then there's the political dimension. Concerns over media consolidation are running high right now, with lawmakers from both parties raising objections. President Donald Trump has indicated he plans to weigh in on the potential acquisition, which adds another layer of uncertainty. And Senator Elizabeth Warren has warned that the Justice Department's review of the competing bids could be influenced by political favoritism.

When you're trying to close a deal worth over $100 billion, the last thing you want is political interference from multiple directions. The Netflix deal might be worth less on paper, but it comes with significantly less drama.

Where Things Stand Now

Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the matter. The board is expected to make its decision next week, and all signs point to rejection.

In after-hours trading, the market was fairly muted on the news: Netflix shares were down 0.30%, Paramount shares slipped 0.074%, and Warner Bros Discovery declined by 0.78%.

For what it's worth, Warner Bros Discovery has been showing a strong price trend in the short, medium, and long term, suggesting that investors are reasonably comfortable with the company's current strategic direction, presumably including the Netflix deal.

Sometimes in business, the bigger offer isn't the better offer. And sometimes even a billionaire's personal guarantee isn't enough to overcome concerns about financing, regulatory hurdles, and political headaches. Warner Bros' board appears to have decided that a bird in the hand (Netflix) is worth two in the bush (Paramount), even if those two birds are personally backed by Larry Ellison.