WBD Acquisition Thread

[Moe]

Just raise the bid too high enough to cripple the Paramount, so ultimately, deal wouldn't go through for both companies.

WBD is going to stay WBD.

 

[Insidus]

Just raise the bid too high enough to cripple the Paramount, so ultimately, deal wouldn't go through for both companies.

WBD is going to stay WBD.

Netflix can always look for other fish e.g. Candle Media or NBCUniversal I mean less regulatory scrutiny

 

[AetherOps]

What happened all of a sudden to make WBD turn on Netflix?

 

[JulianRO]

Probably Netflix's deal doesn't seem attractive anymore to the shareholders

 

[Moe]

Probably Netflix's deal doesn't seem attractive anymore to the shareholders

Lowell said Netflix is favored and has option to outbid Paramount.

The decision is entirely depends on Netflix to fight or give up.

We have to wait for Netflix to say.

 

[Light Lucario]

Considering that Netflix sent out emails to their subscribers after news of the potential merger came out, acting as if it was already a done deal when they were still in the early stages of the deal, I'd be surprised if Netflix doesn't want to keep fighting for WB. It's not like they wouldn't have the money to increase their bid for WB.

 

[Insidus]

Considering that Netflix sent out emails to their subscribers after news of the potential merger came out, acting as if it was already a done deal when they were still in the early stages of the deal, I'd be surprised if Netflix doesn't want to keep fighting for WB. It's not like they wouldn't have the money to increase their bid for WB.

I guess the question is how much money they're willing to throw in the fire

 

[Light Lucario]

I guess the question is how much money they're willing to throw in the fire

If Paramount can't increase their bid, you would think that they wouldn't be against throwing in more money, if only so that they don't give their competition more content and control over the industry.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Okay, now I’m getting worried that WBD will accept Paramount’s offer, just because of its revisions like the "ticking fee", thus ditching Netflix.

Plus, the recent article headlines are misleading, as FilmIndexMedia states:

 

[lowell]

Lowell said Netflix is favored and has option to outbid Paramount.

The decision is entirely depends on Netflix to fight or give up.

We have to wait for Netflix to say.

Yup, if WarnerDiscovery opens the door for Skydance, that means not only Netflix but other companies are allowed to send new offers to the table.

If you open the door for one, you have to open it for everyone else, too.

That means if Amazon, for example, is still interested in putting their own shot, they can do so as well.

Even without any news yet, the Ellisons' and their team's way of thinking is off-putting here:

"Confidence is growing inside Paramount Skydance that Warner Bros. Discovery will jettison its deal with Netflix in a matter of days and reopen a monthslong bidding war for the company, The Post has learned.

Increasingly, WBD investors believe the nearly sealed, $72 billion deal with Netflix for the studio and streaming service is facing insurmountable regulatory hurdles, while they also are questioning the valuation of the Netflix offer.

“We’re going to get this company sooner or later,” said one person working on the Paramount Skydance bid. “The numbers don’t add up and there’s no way this gets approved on antitrust grounds.”

People inside Paramount Skydance, run by indie movie producer David Ellison with backing of his multibillionaire father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, say they have received no word from WBD on reopening the process. A WBD spokesman, meanwhile, had no comment on the matter."

On the investors' concern regarding Global Networks, it's actually understandable why the WarnerDiscovery board's fiduciary duty requires them to get the highest price possible here:

"The $27.75-a-share, all-cash bid includes money from a planned sale of WBD’s cable operation to push it above the $30 a share Paramount is offering. Yet investors increasingly worry that the spin-off won’t fetch $3 a share as is being promised."

Exclusive | Paramount grows more confident Warner Bros. Discovery will drop Netflix bid

Confidence is growing inside Paramount Skydance that Warner Bros. Discovery will jettison its deal with Netflix in a matter of days and reopen a monthslong bidding war for the company, The Post has…

nypost.com

 

[awinger24]

It's over. Paramount will own WBD. RIP WBD.

 

[Daikun]

It's over. Paramount will own WBD. RIP WBD.

You're jumping to conclusions way too soon.

 

[Moe]

It's over. Paramount will own WBD. RIP WBD.

Don't be too desperate and it is bad for your mental health.

It is not over yet and you have to understand about how extremely complication with M&A.

Like @zakawer2 saying no one would end up own WBD after ferocious M&A battle.

Netflix has a lot of tools at their disposal to make deal very unappealing to Paramount, so it would force David Ellison to realize that is not sustainable and they could ultimately give up eventually.

It does require you to have a patience, so you can see a happy ending (Netflix won) or nuanced ending (no deal, M&A terminated) instead of bad ending (Ellison).

You're jumping to conclusions way too soon.

Yeah, it is still long road for now.

However, there are many people (including myself too) became anxious with potential Netflix's and Paramount's treatment of WBD properties. I know some people hope that M&A don't through for both companies.

It is going to be a big trouble for Paramount and other Hollywood studios if millions of customers lose the confidence because of series of M&A and it could make Paramount-WBD merger as failure and Ellison lose much money, akin to AOL/AT&T situation with WB or much worse than two, so another divorce could occur in near future.

My confidence with major studios are getting low and low.

Plus, the recent article headlines are misleading, as FilmIndexMedia states:

Thank you for clarification.

There is no surprise about media want to spread the fear.

 

[JulianRO]

Netflix Grants 7-Day Waiver for Paramount/Warner Bros Talks: Details

Netflix granted a waiver for Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount to reopen talks, with a WBD shareholders meeting set for March 20th.

bleedingcool.com

And here we go.

 

[LooneyTunesFan3]

Netflix Grants 7-Day Waiver for Paramount/Warner Bros Talks: Details

Netflix granted a waiver for Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount to reopen talks, with a WBD shareholders meeting set for March 20th.

bleedingcool.com

And here we go.

If Paramount win to buy WBD, what will happen to Looney Tunes?

 

[powergate92]

Netflix will allow a 7 day waiver for WBD to engage with Paramount because "Throughout the robust and highly competitive strategic review process, Netflix has consistently taken a constructive, responsive approach with WBD, in stark contrast to Paramount Skydance. While we are confident that our transaction provides superior value and certainty, we recognize the ongoing distraction for WBD stockholders and the broader entertainment industry caused by PSKY’s antics. Accordingly, we granted WBD a narrow seven-day waiver of certain obligations under our merger agreement to allow them to engage with PSKY to fully and finally resolve this matter,” Netflix said."

Netflix the went on to say "This does not change the fact that we have the only signed, board-recommended agreement with WBD, and ours is the only certain path to delivering value to WBD’s stockholders,”

"Netflix is confident that our transaction, a largely vertical merger of complementary assets, has a clear path to timely regulatory approval,”

“By contrast, PSKY has repeatedly mischaracterized the regulatory review process by suggesting its proposal will sail through, misleading WBD stockholders about the real risk of their regulatory challenges around the world. WBD stockholders should not be misled into thinking that PSKY has an easier or faster path to regulatory approval – it does not,”

Netflix Hopes WBD-Paramount Talks Will “Finally Resolve This Matter”, Berates David Ellison Company For Misleading Warner Shareholders

Netflix slammed Paramount’s “antics” and blasted David Ellison's company for misleading Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders on regulatory issues.

deadline.com

 

[GRPHX]

I think Netflix panicked; I think the PSKY move was shocking and unexpected.

I'm saying this objectively and impartially. Personally, I'm on Netflix's side for a better localized streaming catalog and a wider legacy network library, but I have my doubts about that. I don't want to seem too biased or exaggerated. I apologize to anyone who thinks I'm being negative.

 

[JulianRO]

Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav’s real plan was to let Paramount, Netflix ‘duke it out’: sources

Zaslav did that by keeping the lines of communication open with paramount chief David Ellison and his mega billionaire father Larry Ellison, who is bankrolling the company’s bid.

nypost.com

Zaslav never stops to impress me.

 

[GRPHX]

I've always said Zaslav is a clown

 

[AetherOps]

What's likely to happen now?