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Warner Board Rejects Paramount Bid, Backs Netflix as Kushner Fund Pulls Out

Warner’s directors favor Netflix’s binding offer due to concerns over opaque financing in Paramount’s proposal.

Overview

  • Warner Bros. Discovery’s board urged shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid, saying claims of a fully guaranteed $30-per-share cash offer were misleading.
  • Directors cited reliance on an “unknown and opaque” trust and money tied to Gulf sovereign funds, contrasting that with what they called Netflix’s binding, fully financed package.
  • Netflix’s proposal targets Warner’s studios, library and HBO Max and has been reported between roughly $72 billion and nearly $83 billion, while Paramount seeks the entire company including CNN.
  • Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners withdrew its planned participation—reported at about $200 million—from Paramount’s financing, heightening scrutiny of the investor mix.
  • Shares moved after the guidance, with Warner Bros. Discovery slipping about 1.2% after hours and Netflix edging up roughly 0.8%, as shareholders weigh votes and potential regulatory review and fees.