PARAMOUNT CONFIRMS SUBMISSION OF REVISED PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY
Rhea-AI Summary
Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ: PSKY) confirmed on Feb 24, 2026 it submitted a revised proposal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD).
Paramount said the submission follows engagement after WBD received a seven-day waiver under its merger agreement with Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). Completion requires WBD Board to deem Paramount's offer a Company Superior Proposal, expiration of a four-business-day match period, termination of the Netflix merger agreement, and execution of a definitive merger agreement. Paramount will continue its previously announced tender offer and solicitation opposing the Netflix merger while WBD considers the revised proposal.
Positive
- Paramount submitted a revised acquisition proposal to WBD on Feb 24, 2026
- Paramount is maintaining its tender offer and solicitation opposing the Netflix deal
Negative
- Deal requires WBD Board to find a Company Superior Proposal before proceeding
- Execution depends on termination of the existing Netflix merger agreement
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
WBD is up 0.59% while key peers (LYV, FOXA, FOX, NWS, NWSA) show declines between about -1.15% and -2.82%, indicating a stock-specific move tied to deal headlines rather than a sector rotation.
Previous Acquisition Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11 | Acquisition activism | Positive | +0.7% | Ancora backs Paramount’s $30 cash proposal over the Netflix transaction. |
| Dec 08 | Tender offer launch | Positive | +4.4% | Paramount launches $30 per-share all-cash tender offer for WBD. |
Recent acquisition-related headlines for WBD have been followed by modest positive moves, with same-tag events showing gains of 0.68% and 4.41% and an average move of 2.54%.
Recent history around WBD centers on competing acquisition proposals. On Dec 8, 2025, Paramount launched a $30 per share all-cash tender offer, implying an enterprise value of $108.4 billion and a 139% premium, which coincided with a 4.41% gain. On Feb 11, 2026, Ancora publicly opposed the Netflix deal and backed Paramount’s $30 cash offer, with WBD rising 0.68%. Today’s revised proposal from Paramount fits this ongoing contested bid narrative.
Historical Comparison
Past WBD acquisition headlines (average move 2.54%) saw modest gains; today’s revised Paramount proposal continues that contested-takeover pattern.
Acquisition-related news has progressed from Paramount’s initial $30 all-cash tender offer in Dec 2025 to ongoing shareholder and activist pressure in Feb 2026, all centered on competing Netflix and Paramount proposals for WBD.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement confirms Paramount’s revised proposal to acquire WBD and outlines procedural steps, including a seven-day waiver, a four-business-day match period, and a required “Company Superior Proposal” finding. The news fits an ongoing contested bid environment with Netflix’s signed merger agreement. Historically, acquisition headlines produced modest positive moves for WBD, but outcomes have hinged on board decisions, shareholder votes, and regulatory clearances, all of which remain critical metrics to monitor.
Key Terms
tender offer financial
merger agreement regulatory
definitive merger agreement regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The entry into a transaction with WBD would require the WBD Board to determine that Paramount's revised proposal is a "Company Superior Proposal" under its merger agreement with Netflix, the expiration of a four business day match period, termination of the Netflix merger agreement and execution of a definitive merger agreement between Paramount and WBD.
While the WBD Board of Directors considers Paramount's revised proposal, Paramount will continue to maintain its previously announced tender offer and its solicitation in opposition to the inferior Netflix merger.
About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation is a leading, next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. Paramount's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS – America's most-watched broadcast network, CBS News, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Paramount+, Paramount TV, and Skydance's Animation, Film, Television, Interactive/Games, and Sports divisions. For more information, visit paramount.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains both historical and forward-looking statements, including statements related to Paramount Skydance Corporation's ("Paramount") future financial results and performance, potential achievements, anticipated reporting segments and industry changes and developments. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Similarly, statements that describe Paramount's objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Paramount's current expectations concerning future results and events; generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "likely," "will," "may," "could," "estimate" or other similar words or phrases; and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause Paramount's actual results, performance or achievements to be different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the outcome of the tender offer by Paramount and Prince Sub Inc. (the "Tender Offer") to purchase for cash all of the outstanding Series A common stock of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. ("WBD") or any discussions between Paramount and WBD with respect to a possible transaction (including, without limitation, by means of the Tender Offer, the "Potential Transaction"), including the possibility that the Tender Offer will not be successful, that the parties will not agree to pursue a business combination transaction or that the terms of any such transaction will be materially different from those described herein; the conditions to the completion of the Potential Transaction or the previously announced transaction between WBD and Netflix, Inc. ("Netflix") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 4, 2025 (as it may be amended or supplemented), among Netflix, Nightingale Sub, Inc., WBD and New Topco 25, Inc. (the "Proposed Netflix Transaction"), including the receipt of any required stockholder and regulatory approvals for either transaction, the proposed financing for the Potential Transaction, the indebtedness Paramount expects to incur in connection with the Potential Transaction and the total indebtedness of the combined company; the possibility that Paramount may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate the operations of WBD with those of Paramount, and the possibility that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected or that operating costs and business disruption (including, without limitation, disruptions in relationships with employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected in connection with the Potential Transaction; risks related to Paramount's streaming business; the adverse impact on Paramount's advertising revenues as a result of changes in consumer behavior, advertising market conditions and deficiencies in audience measurement; risks related to operating in highly competitive and dynamic industries, including cost increases; the unpredictable nature of consumer behavior, as well as evolving technologies and distribution models; risks related to Paramount's decisions to make investments in new businesses, products, services and technologies, and the evolution of Paramount's business strategy; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in or the impact of negotiations for the distribution of Paramount's content; damage to Paramount's reputation or brands; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets, FCC licenses and content; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; increasing scrutiny of, and evolving expectations for, sustainability initiatives; evolving business continuity, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection and similar risks; content infringement; domestic and global political, economic and regulatory factors affecting Paramount's businesses generally, including tariffs and other changes in trade policies; the inability to hire or retain key employees or secure creative talent; disruptions to Paramount's operations as a result of labor disputes; the risks and costs associated with the integration of, and Paramount's ability to integrate, the businesses of Paramount Global and Skydance Media, LLC successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies; volatility in the prices of Paramount's Class B Common Stock; potential conflicts of interest arising from Paramount's ownership structure with a controlling stockholder; and other factors described in Paramount's news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including but not limited to Paramount's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Paramount's reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. There may be additional risks, uncertainties and factors that Paramount does not currently view as material or that are not necessarily known. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this report, and Paramount does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Additional Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell securities. This communication relates to a proposal that Paramount has made for an acquisition of WBD, the Tender Offer that Paramount, through Prince Sub Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, has made to WBD stockholders, and Paramount's intention to solicit proxies against the Proposed Netflix Transaction and other proposals to be voted on by WBD stockholders at the special meeting of WBD stockholders to be held to approve the Proposed Netflix Transaction (the "Netflix Merger Solicitation") and/or for use at the WBD annual meeting of stockholders. The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including the offer to purchase, the letter of transmittal and other related offer documents), filed with the SEC on December 8, 2025. These materials, as may be amended from time to time, contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the offer. Subject to future developments, Paramount (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, WBD) may file additional documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, tender offer statement, or other document Paramount and/or WBD may file with the SEC in connection with the Potential Transaction.
Paramount, Prince Sub Inc. and the other participants in the Netflix Merger Solicitation have filed a preliminary proxy statement and the accompanying BLUE proxy card with the SEC on January 22, 2026 in connection with the Netflix Merger Solicitation (the "Special Meeting Preliminary Proxy Statement"). Paramount expects to file a definitive proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card with the SEC in connection with the Netflix Merger Solicitation and may file other proxy solicitation materials in connection therewith or the annual meeting of WBD stockholders, or other documents with the SEC.
PARAMOUNT STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF WBD TO READ THE SPECIAL MEETING PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PARTICIPANTS. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, PARAMOUNT AND THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROXY SOLICITATIONS WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE APPLICABLE PROXY STATEMENTS WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE APPLICABLE PROXY SOLICITOR.
Participants in the Solicitation
The participants in the Netflix Merger Solicitation are expected to be Paramount, Prince Sub Inc., certain directors and executive officers of Paramount and Prince Sub Inc., Lawrence Ellison, RedBird Capital Management and The Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust, u/a/d 1/22/88, as amended. Additional information about the participants in the Netflix Merger Solicitation is available in the Special Meeting Preliminary Proxy Statement.
PSKY-IR
Media Contacts:
Paramount
Melissa Zukerman / Laura Watson
msz@paramount.com / laura.watson@paramount.com
Brunswick Group
ParamountSkydance@brunswickgroup.com
Gagnier Communications
Dan Gagnier
dg@gagnierfc.com
Investor Contacts:
Paramount
Kevin Creighton / Logan Thomas
kevin.creighton@paramount.com / logan.thomas@paramount.com
Okapi Partners
(212) 297-0720
Toll-Free: (844) 343-2621
info@okapipartners.com
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SOURCE Paramount Skydance Corporation