Warner Bros. Discovery Confirms Receipt of Amended, Unsolicited Tender Offer from Paramount Skydance
Rhea-AI Summary
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) confirmed receipt on December 22, 2025 of an amended unsolicited tender offer from Paramount Skydance (NASDAQ: PSKY) to acquire all outstanding WBD common stock (the "Amended Tender Offer").
The WBD Board, with independent financial and legal advisors, will review the Amended Tender Offer consistent with its fiduciary duties and the Netflix Merger Agreement. The Board previously unanimously rejected a prior tender offer received on December 8, 2025 as providing inadequate value and not meeting the Netflix agreement's "Superior Proposal" criteria, and the Board is not modifying its recommendation regarding the Netflix Merger Agreement.
WBD advised stockholders not to take any action at this time. Allen & Company, J.P. Morgan and Evercore serve as financial advisors; Wachtell Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Debevoise & Plimpton serve as legal counsel.
Positive
- Paramount Skydance submitted an amended unsolicited tender offer on Dec 22, 2025
- WBD Board will conduct a formal review consistent with the Netflix Merger Agreement
- Advisors engaged: Allen & Company, J.P. Morgan, Evercore, Wachtell Lipton, Debevoise
Negative
- WBD Board unanimously rejected Paramount Skydance's prior offer on Dec 8, 2025
- Board states prior offer provided inadequate value and imposed significant risks
- Board is not modifying its recommendation regarding the Netflix Merger Agreement
News Market Reaction 1 Alert
On the day this news was published, WBD gained 1.39%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. This price movement added approximately $944M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $68.83B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
WBD gained 3.53% while key peers like FOXA and FOX saw modest moves of 1.5% and 0.92%. Other peers (LYV, NWS, NWSA) showed small changes, indicating today’s move in WBD is more company-specific than sector-driven.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17 | Bid reaffirmation | Positive | -2.4% | Paramount reaffirmed commitment to a $30 all‑cash offer for WBD. |
| Dec 17 | Board recommendation | Negative | -2.4% | WBD board unanimously urged shareholders to reject Paramount’s tender offer. |
| Dec 10 | Tender details | Positive | -0.1% | Paramount letter launched $30 per share all‑cash tender with financing outlined. |
| Dec 08 | Offer confirmation | Positive | +4.4% | WBD confirmed receipt of Paramount Skydance’s unsolicited tender offer. |
| Dec 08 | Tender launch | Positive | +4.4% | Paramount launched $30 per share all‑cash tender to acquire WBD. |
Recent takeover-related headlines show mixed reactions: some tender-offer updates aligned with positive price moves, while others saw mild downside despite seemingly favorable bid news.
Over the last few weeks, Warner Bros. Discovery has been at the center of competing acquisition proposals from Paramount Skydance and Netflix. Multiple headlines since Dec 8, 2025 detailed Paramount’s $30 all‑cash tender offer and WBD’s confirmations and responses, including a board recommendation to reject the initial bid. Price reactions ranged from declines of about 2.39% on certain Paramount communications to gains of 4.41% when the initial tender was confirmed, underscoring uneven market interpretation of deal dynamics ahead of today’s amended offer.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement confirms that Warner Bros. Discovery received an amended unsolicited tender offer from Paramount Skydance while the board continues to evaluate it under the existing Netflix merger agreement. Recent history since Dec 8, 2025 shows multiple competing communications from Paramount and WBD, with mixed price reactions. Key factors to watch include the board’s eventual recommendation on this amended offer, any changes to the Netflix terms, and forthcoming SEC proxy and tender materials that further clarify comparative value and risks.
Key Terms
tender offer financial
fiduciary duties financial
merger agreement regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors (the "Board"), consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisors, will carefully review and consider Paramount Skydance's offer in accordance with the terms of Warner Bros. Discovery's agreement with Netflix, Inc. ("Netflix") (the "Netflix Merger Agreement").
Paramount Skydance's Amended Tender Offer follows the WBD Board of Directors' unanimous rejection of Paramount Skydance's previous unsolicited tender offer received on December 8, 2025 (the "December 8 Tender Offer"). The WBD Board carefully reviewed the December 8 Tender Offer and determined that it provided inadequate value and imposed numerous significant risks and costs on WBD and its stockholders, and did not meet the criteria of a "Superior Proposal" under the Netflix Merger Agreement.
The Board is not modifying its recommendation with respect to the Netflix Merger Agreement.
Warner Bros. Discovery will review the Amended Tender Offer and advise its stockholders of the Board's recommendation after the completion of that review.
Warner Bros. Discovery stockholders are advised not to take any action at this time with respect to the amended Paramount Skydance tender offer.
Allen & Company, J.P. Morgan and Evercore are serving as financial advisors to Warner Bros. Discovery and Wachtell Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP are serving as legal counsel.
About Warner Bros. Discovery:
Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, HBO Max, discovery+, CNN, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
Important Information about the Tender Offer and Where to Find It
WBD has filed a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the December 8 Tender Offer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE SOLICITATION /RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the solicitation/recommendation statement as well as other filings by WBD, without charge, at the SEC's website, https://www.sec.gov. In addition, free copies of documents filed with the SEC by WBD will be made available free of charge on WBD's investor relations website at https://www.ir.wbd.com.
Important Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed transaction between WBD and Netflix (the "proposed transaction"). In connection with the proposed transaction, Netflix intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4, containing a proxy statement/prospectus, with the SEC and WBD intends to file a proxy statement with the SEC. WBD also intends to file a registration statement for a newly formed subsidiary ("Discovery Global"), which is contemplated to own certain assets and businesses of WBD not being acquired by Netflix in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE REGISTRATION STATEMENTS, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statements and proxy statement/prospectus (when available) as well as other filings containing information about WBD and Netflix, without charge, at the SEC's website, https://www.sec.gov. Free copies of the registration statements and proxy statement/prospectus, once available, and each company's other filings with the SEC may also be obtained from the respective companies. Free copies of documents filed with the SEC by WBD will be made available on WBD's investor relations website at https://ir.wbd.com. Free copies of documents filed with the SEC by Netflix will be made available on Netflix's investor relations website at https://ir.netflix.net.
Participants in the Solicitation
WBD and Netflix and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of WBD is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, under the heading "Executive Officers of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.," and its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 23, 2025, under the heading "Proposal 1: Election of Directors." Information about the directors and executive officers of Netflix is set forth in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 17, 2025, under the headings "Our Board of Directors" and "Our Company Executive Officers." Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the registration statements, proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials regarding the proposed transaction when they become available.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this communication, including financial estimates and statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the proposed transaction between WBD and Netflix, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These estimates and statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. Such estimates and statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed transaction, including future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, statements about the tender offer and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of WBD and Netflix and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of our control.
Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements are the following: (1) the completion of the proposed transaction may not occur on the anticipated terms and timing or at all; (2) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; (3) the risk that WBD stockholders may not approve the proposed transaction; (4) the risk that the necessary regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction may not be obtained or may be obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; (5) risks that any of the closing conditions to the proposed transaction may not be satisfied in a timely manner; (6) the final allocation of indebtedness between WBD and Discovery Global in connection with the separation could cause a reduction to the consideration for the proposed transaction; (7) risks related to potential litigation brought in connection with the proposed transaction; (8) the risk that the integration of the businesses will be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; (9) risks related to financial community and rating agency perceptions of each of WBD and Netflix and their businesses, operations, financial conditions and the industries in which they operate; (10) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; (11) failure to realize the benefits expected from the proposed transaction; (12) effects of the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction on the ability of WBD and Netflix to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; (13) risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the proposed transaction; (14) negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the proposed transaction on the market price of WBD and/or Netflix common stock; (15) risks relating to the value of the shares of Netflix common stock to be issued in the proposed transaction and uncertainty as to the long-term value of Netflix common stock; (16) the potential impact of unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition and losses on the future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of Netflix's operations after the consummation of the proposed transaction, and on the other conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction; (17) risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the proposed transaction; (18) the risk that Discovery Global, as a new company that currently has no credit rating, will not have access to the capital markets on acceptable terms; (19) the risk that Discovery Global may be unable to achieve some or all of the benefits that WBD expects Discovery Global to achieve as an independent, publicly-traded company; (20) the risk that Discovery Global may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events than it would have otherwise been while still a part of WBD; (21) the risk that Discovery Global will incur significant indebtedness in connection with the separation, and the degree to which it will be leveraged following completion of the separation may materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations; (22) the ability to obtain or consummate financing or refinancing related to the proposed transaction or the separation upon acceptable terms or at all; (23) uncertainties as to how many WBD stockholders will tender their shares in the tender offer; (24) the conditions to the completion of the tender offer, including the receipt of any required stockholder and regulatory approvals; (25) PSKY's ability to finance the tender offer and the indebtedness PSKY expects to incur in connection with the tender offer; (26) the possibility that PSKY may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate PSKY's operations with those of PSKY, 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 tender offer; and (27) the response of WBD, Netflix or PSKY management to any of the aforementioned factors. Discussions of additional risks and uncertainties are contained in WBD's and Netflix's filings with the SEC, including their Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and will be contained in the Form S-4, containing a proxy statement/prospectus, to be filed by Netflix in connection with the proposed transaction and the registration statement to be filed by Discovery Global in connection with the separation. Neither WBD nor Netflix is under any obligation, and each expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Persons reading this announcement are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof.
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SOURCE Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
FAQ
What did Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announce on December 22, 2025 about Paramount Skydance's offer?
How does the Netflix Merger Agreement affect WBD's review of the Paramount Skydance offer (WBD)?
Did the WBD Board change its recommendation on the Netflix merger after the Dec 22, 2025 notice?
What should Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders do now about the Paramount Skydance tender offer?
When did WBD previously receive and reject a Paramount Skydance tender offer?
Which financial and legal advisors are representing Warner Bros. Discovery in this matter?
