[PRER14A] Paramount Skydance Corp Preliminary Revised Proxy Statement
Paramount Skydance Corporation and its subsidiary Prince Sub are asking Warner Bros. Discovery stockholders to vote against three special meeting proposals that would approve a cash-and-stock sale to Netflix and related steps. They argue their all-cash tender offer of $30.00 per share is higher and more certain than the Netflix structure, where Warner Bros. stockholders would receive up to $27.75 in cash subject to a net debt adjustment and shares of a spun-off Global Linear Networks business whose value is uncertain and highly leveraged. Paramount highlights valuation work cited by Warner Bros.’ own advisors showing potential Global Linear Networks equity value as low as $0.72 per share, and notes the Netflix cash consideration could fall to $21.23 per share depending on how much debt Warner Bros. allocates to Global Linear Networks. Paramount also emphasizes its signed debt commitments, a full equity backstop from the Ellison family and partners, and broader regulatory commitments, claiming a clearer path to closing than Netflix. The filing details a timeline of Paramount’s increasing bids from $19.00 to $30.00 per share, its view that the Warner Bros. board favored Netflix, and informs stockholders that voting against the Netflix merger is a condition to Paramount’s offer and a prerequisite to exercising appraisal rights.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Paramount mounts a cash bid and proxy challenge to Netflix’s Warner Bros. deal.
Paramount Skydance offers Warner Bros. Discovery stockholders an all-cash
Paramount points to a merger formula that can cut Netflix’s cash payment to as low as
The document also attacks regulatory and process aspects of the Netflix agreement, highlighting that Netflix is not obligated to accept remedies affecting its own business while Paramount commits to broader concessions. Future developments will depend on how Warner Bros. stockholders vote on the Netflix proposals at the special meeting and whether they pursue appraisal rights as described in the Warner Bros. proxy statement.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 1)
PRINCE SUB INC.
OF
PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE CORPORATION
PRINCE SUB INC.
THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.
BY NETFLIX, INC.
New York, NY 10036
Banks and Brokerage Firms, Please Call: (212) 297-0720
Stockholders and All Others Call Toll-Free: (844) 343-2621
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com
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Page
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REASONS TO VOTE “AGAINST” THE SPECIAL MEETING PROPOSALS
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1
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BACKGROUND OF THE SOLICITATION
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6
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CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE OFFER
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39
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CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED NETFLIX MERGER
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40
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CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING PARAMOUNT AND PRINCE SUB
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45
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OTHER PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING
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45
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VOTING PROCEDURES
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46
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APPRAISAL RIGHTS
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50
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SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
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50
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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50
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OTHER INFORMATION
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51
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IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION
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53
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SCHEDULE I INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND AFFILIATES OF PARAMOUNT AND PRINCE SUB WHO MAY BE
PARTICIPANTS |
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Sch I-1
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SCHEDULE II SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF WARNER BROS. PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
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Sch II-1
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Net Debt Reduction ($bn)
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Implied Global Linear Networks Net
Debt at 6/30/26E ($bn) |
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Reduction in Cash
Consideration per Share |
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Resulting Cash
Consideration per Share |
| |||||||||
| |
—
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| | | $ | 17.0 | | | | |
|
—
|
| | | | $ | 27.75 | | |
| |
$ 1.0
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| | | $ | 16.0 | | | | | $ | (0.38) | | | | | $ | 27.37 | | |
| |
$ 2.0
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| | | $ | 15.0 | | | | | $ | (0.77) | | | | | $ | 26.98 | | |
| |
$ 3.0
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| | | $ | 14.0 | | | | | $ | (1.15) | | | | | $ | 26.60 | | |
| |
$17.0
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| | | $ | 0.0 | | | | | $ | (6.52) | | | | | $ | 21.23 | | |
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Sources of Capital
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$bn
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Cash Funding from Certain Affiliates and Partners of Paramount
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| | | $ | 40.7 | | |
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New Transaction Debt
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| | | | 38.6 | | |
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WBD Bridge Loan Refinancing
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| | | | 15.4 | | |
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Cash from Combined Balance Sheet
|
| | | | 3.5 | | |
| Total | | | | $ | 98.2 | | |
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Uses of Capital
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$bn
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WBD Equity Purchase Price
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| | | $ | 77.9 | | |
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WBD Bridge Loan Refinancing
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| | | | 15.4 | | |
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Minimum Balance Sheet Cash at Close
|
| | | | 4.8 | | |
| Total | | | | $ | 98.2 | | |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Paramount Skydance Corporation
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Term
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| |
Original Netflix Merger Agreement
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Paramount/Warner Bros.
Merger Agreement |
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Structure
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•
Acquisition of the Streaming & Studios businesses following an internal reorganization and a spin-off of the Global Linear Networks businesses and other assets into SpinCo
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| |
•
Acquisition of all of Warner Bros.
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Consideration
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| |
•
$23.25 per Warner Bros. share in cash, plus
•
a to-be-determined number of shares of Netflix stock equal to:
•
0.0376, if the 15-day volume-weighted average trading price prior to closing (the “Netflix VWAP”) is equal to or greater than $119.67;
•
the quotient obtained by dividing $4.50 by the Netflix VWAP, if the Netflix VWAP is greater than $97.91 but less than $119.67; or
•
0.0460, if the Netflix VWAP is less than or equal to $97.91
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| |
•
$30 per Warner Bros. share in cash
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|
| | | |
•
Consideration payable to Warner Bros. stockholders is subject to dollar-for-dollar reduction based on the net debt of SpinCo (which reduction in consideration is left to Warner Bros., in its sole discretion)
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•
No reduction to consideration
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|
|
Financing
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| |
•
$59.0 billion of debt financing provided by Wells Fargo, BNP and HSBC
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| |
•
$40.7 billion of equity capital provided by the Ellison family and RedBird
•
$54.0 billion of debt financing provided by BofA, Citi and Apollo
|
|
|
Term
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| |
Original Netflix Merger Agreement
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Paramount/Warner Bros.
Merger Agreement |
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|
Regulatory Efforts Commitment
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| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that:
•
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of Streaming & Studios; or
•
involves, applies to, restricts, or affects the operation, contracts, business or assets of Netflix
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| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that, individually or in the aggregate with all other remedies, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Paramount and its subsidiaries, including Warner Bros. and its subsidiaries
|
|
| | | |
•
Commitment to litigate
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| |
•
Commitment to litigate
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Regulatory Reverse Termination Fee
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| |
•
$5.8 billion, payable by Netflix upon, among other things, termination for failure to obtain required regulatory approvals
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| |
•
$5 billion, payable by Paramount upon, among other things, termination for failure to obtain required regulatory approvals
•
$1 billion deposited into an escrow account at 12 months and $500 million deposited at 15 months
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Outside Date
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•
21 months (15 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
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| |
•
18 months (12 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
|
|
|
Warner Bros. Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$2.8 billion (~3.89% of equity value), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
| |
•
3.75% of equity value (~$2.9 billion), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Paramount Skydance Corporation
|
Term
|
| |
Original Netflix Merger Agreement
|
| |
December 22 Paramount/Warner
Bros. Merger Agreement |
|
|
Structure
|
| |
•
Acquisition of the Streaming & Studios businesses following an internal reorganization and a spin-off of the Global Linear Networks businesses and other assets into SpinCo
|
| |
•
Acquisition of all of Warner Bros.
|
|
|
Consideration
|
| |
•
$23.25 per Warner Bros. share in cash, plus
•
a to-be-determined number of shares of Netflix stock equal to:
•
0.0376, if the 15-day volume-weighted average trading price prior to closing (the “Netflix VWAP”) is equal to or greater than $119.67;
•
the quotient obtained by dividing $4.50 by the Netflix VWAP, if the Netflix VWAP is greater than $97.91 but less than $119.67; or
•
0.0460, if the Netflix VWAP is less than or equal to $97.91
|
| |
•
$30 per Warner Bros. share in cash
|
|
|
Term
|
| |
Original Netflix Merger Agreement
|
| |
December 22 Paramount/Warner
Bros. Merger Agreement |
|
| | | |
•
Consideration payable to Warner Bros. stockholders is subject to dollar-for-dollar reduction based on the net debt of SpinCo (which reduction in consideration is left to Warner Bros., in its sole discretion)
|
| |
•
No reduction to consideration
|
|
|
Financing
|
| |
•
$59.0 billion of debt financing provided by Wells Fargo, BNP and HSBC
|
| |
•
$40.7 billion of equity capital provided by the Ellison Trust and RedBird
•
Mr. Larry Ellison is providing a personal guarantee of the Ellison Trust’s $40.4 billion equity commitment
•
$54.0 billion of debt financing provided by BofA, Citi and Apollo
|
|
|
Regulatory Efforts Commitment
|
| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that:
•
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of Streaming & Studios; or
•
involves, applies to, restricts, or affects the operation, contracts, business or assets of Netflix
|
| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that, individually or in the aggregate with all other remedies, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Paramount and its subsidiaries, including Warner Bros. and its subsidiaries
|
|
| | | |
•
Commitment to litigate
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| |
•
Commitment to litigate
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|
Regulatory Reverse Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$5.8 billion, payable by Netflix upon, among other things, termination for failure to obtain required regulatory approvals
|
| |
•
Same
|
|
|
Outside Date
|
| |
•
21 months (15 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
|
| |
•
18 months (12 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
|
|
|
Warner Bros. Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$2.8 billion (~3.89% of equity value), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
| |
•
3.75% of equity value (~$2.9 billion), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
|
|
Term
|
| |
Netflix Merger Agreement
|
| |
December 22 Paramount/Warner
Bros. Merger Agreement |
|
|
Structure
|
| |
•
Acquisition of the Streaming & Studios businesses following an internal reorganization and a spin-off of the Global Linear Networks businesses and other assets into SpinCo
|
| |
•
Acquisition of all of Warner Bros.
|
|
|
Consideration
|
| |
•
$27.75 per Warner Bros. share in cash
•
Consideration payable to Warner Bros. stockholders is subject to reduction based on the net debt of Global Linear Networks (which reduction in consideration is left to Warner Bros., in its sole discretion)
•
Net debt to be $17.0 billion as of June 30, 2026, decreasing over time to $16.1 billion as of December 31, 2026
•
Based on such reduction, the consideration could be as little as $21.23
|
| |
•
$30 per Warner Bros. share in cash
•
No reduction to consideration
|
|
|
Financing
|
| |
•
$67.2 billion of debt financing provided by Wells Fargo, BNP and HSBC
|
| |
•
$40.7 billion of equity capital provided by the Ellison Trust and RedBird
•
Mr. Larry Ellison is providing a personal guarantee of the Ellison Trust’s $40.4 billion equity commitment
•
$54.0 billion of debt financing provided by BofA, Citi and Apollo
|
|
|
Regulatory Efforts Commitment
|
| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that:
•
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of Streaming & Studios; or
•
involves, applies to, restricts, or affects the operation, contracts, business or assets of Netflix
|
| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that, individually or in the aggregate with all other remedies, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Paramount and its subsidiaries, including Warner Bros. and its subsidiaries
|
|
| | | |
•
Commitment to litigate
|
| |
•
Commitment to litigate
|
|
|
Regulatory Reverse Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$5.8 billion, payable by Netflix upon, among other things, termination for failure to obtain required regulatory approvals
|
| |
•
Same
|
|
|
Term
|
| |
Netflix Merger Agreement
|
| |
December 22 Paramount/Warner
Bros. Merger Agreement |
|
|
Outside Date
|
| |
•
21 months (15 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
|
| |
•
18 months (12 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
|
|
|
Warner Bros. Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$2.8 billion (~3.89% of equity value), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
| |
•
3.75% of equity value (~$2.9 billion), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
|
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
|
Sources of Capital
|
| |
$bn
|
| |||
|
Cash Funding from the Ellison Family and RedBird Capital Partners
|
| | | $ | 43.6 | | |
|
New Transaction Debt
|
| | | | 38.6 | | |
|
WBD Bridge Loan Refinancing
|
| | | | 15.4 | | |
|
Cash from Combined Balance Sheet
|
| | | | 3.5 | | |
| Total | | | | $ | 101.0 | | |
|
Uses of Capital
|
| |
$bn
|
| |||
|
WBD Equity Purchase Price
|
| | | $ | 77.8 | | |
|
WBD Bridge Loan Refinancing
|
| | | | 15.4 | | |
|
Funding of WBD Break Fee to Netflix
|
| | | | 2.8 | | |
|
Minimum Balance Sheet Cash at Close
|
| | | | 5.0 | | |
| Total | | | | $ | 101.0 | | |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Paramount Skydance Corporation
|
Term
|
| |
Netflix Merger Agreement
|
| |
February 10 Paramount/Warner Bros.
Merger Agreement |
|
|
Structure
|
| |
•
Acquisition of the Streaming & Studios businesses following an internal reorganization and a spin-off of the Global Linear Networks businesses and other assets into SpinCo
|
| |
•
Acquisition of all of Warner Bros.
|
|
|
Consideration
|
| |
•
$27.75 per Warner Bros. share in cash
•
Consideration payable to Warner Bros. stockholders is subject to reduction based on the net debt of Global Linear Networks (which reduction in consideration is left to Warner Bros., in its sole discretion)
•
Net debt to be $17.0 billion as of June 30, 2026, decreasing over time to $16.1 billion as of December 31, 2026
•
Based on such reduction, the consideration could be as little as $21.23
|
| |
•
$30.00 per Warner Bros. share in cash, plus an amount in cash equal to $0.00277778 multiplied by the number of calendar days elapsed after December 31, 2026 (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not exceed $0.25 per 90 calendar day period)
•
No reduction to consideration
•
Prepayment of Netflix Merger Agreement termination fee
|
|
|
Financing
|
| |
•
$67.2 billion of debt financing provided by Wells Fargo, BNP and HSBC
|
| |
•
$44.9 billion of equity capital provided by the Ellison Trust and RedBird
•
Mr. Larry Ellison is providing a personal guarantee of the Ellison Trust’s $44.6 billion equity commitment
•
$54.0 billion of debt financing provided by BofA, Citi and Apollo
|
|
|
Term
|
| |
Netflix Merger Agreement
|
| |
February 10 Paramount/Warner Bros.
Merger Agreement |
|
|
Regulatory Efforts Commitment
|
| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that:
•
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of Streaming & Studios; or
•
involves, applies to, restricts, or affects the operation, contracts, business or assets of Netflix
•
Commitment to litigate
|
| |
•
No requirement to agree to any remedy that, individually or in the aggregate with all other remedies, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Paramount and its subsidiaries, including Warner Bros. and its subsidiaries
•
Commitment to litigate
|
|
|
Regulatory Reverse Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$5.8 billion, payable by Netflix upon, among other things, termination for failure to obtain required regulatory approvals
|
| |
•
Same
|
|
|
Outside Date
|
| |
•
21 months (15 months plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained)
|
| |
•
December 31, 2026 plus two 3-month extensions if required regulatory approvals have not been obtained
|
|
|
Warner Bros. Termination Fee
|
| |
•
$2.8 billion (~3.89% of equity value), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
| |
•
3.75% of equity value (~$2.9 billion), payable by Warner Bros. upon, among other things, termination for Superior Proposal
|
|
New York, NY 10036
Banks and Brokerage Firms, Please Call: (212) 297-0720
Stockholders and All Others Call Toll-Free: (844) 343-2621
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com
Prince Sub Inc.
, 2026
New York, NY 10036
Banks and Brokerage Firms, Please Call: (212) 297-0720
Stockholders and All Others Call Toll-Free: (844) 343-2621
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com
|
Name
|
| | | |
| David Ellison | | | John L. Thornton | |
| Jeffrey Shell | | | Barbara Byrne | |
| Gerald Cardinale | | | Justin Hamill | |
| Andrew Brandon-Gordon | | | Sherry Lansing | |
| Paul Marinelli | | | Andrew Campion | |
| Safra Catz | | | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Present Principal Occupation or Employment
|
|
| David Ellison | | | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Jeffrey Shell | | | President | |
| Dennis Cinelli | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Andrew Brandon-Gordon | | |
Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
| Makan Delrahim | | | Chief Legal Officer | |
|
Name
|
| | | |
| Katherine M. Gill-Charest | | | | |
| Jeffrey Shell | | | | |
| Andrew Brandon-Gordon | | | | |
| Dennis K. Cinelli | | | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Present Principal Occupation or Employment
|
|
| Katherine M. Gill-Charest | | | Executive Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer | |
| Jeffrey Shell | | | President | |
| Andrew Brandon-Gordon | | | Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |
| Dennis K. Cinelli | | | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Makan Delrahim | | | Chief Legal Officer | |
|
Name
|
| | | |
| Lawrence J. Ellison | | | | |
| RedBird Capital Management | | | | |
|
The Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust, u/a/d 1/22/88, as amended
|
| | | |
|
Name of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
| |
Executive Officers and Directors Shares
of Warner Bros. Series A Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage Ownership of Outstanding
Warner Bros. Series A Common Stock |
| ||||||
|
David M. Zaslav
|
| | | | 11,157,417(2) | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Gunnar Wiedenfels
|
| | | | 961,972(3) | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Bruce L. Campbell
|
| | | | 1,679,792(4) | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Jean-Briac Perrette
|
| | | | 2,058,852 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Gerhard Zeiler
|
| | | | 1,145,803 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr.
|
| | | | 41,886(5) | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Richard W. Fisher
|
| | | | 46,718 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Paul A. Gould
|
| | | | 717,198 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Debra L. Lee
|
| | | | 43,045 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Joseph M. Levin
|
| | | | — | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Anton J. Levy
|
| | | | 925,000 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Kenneth W. Lowe
|
| | | | 1,077,834(6) | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Fazal F. Merchant
|
| | | | 106,539 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Anthony J. Noto
|
| | | | 18,235 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Paula A. Price
|
| | | | — | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Daniel E. Sanchez
|
| | | | 20,054 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Geoffrey Y. Yang
|
| | | | 176,400(7) | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
All 20 current directors and executive officers as a group
|
| | | | 20,513,215 | | | | | | <1% | | |
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
5% Stockholders Shares of Warner
Bros. Series A Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage Ownership of
Outstanding Warner Bros. Series A Common Stock |
| ||||||
|
BlackRock, Inc.(8)
|
| | | | 154,407,752(11) | | | | | | 6.2% | | |
|
State Street Corporation(9)
|
| | | | 169,452,466(12) | | | | | | 6.8% | | |
|
The Vanguard Group(10)
|
| | | | 281,212,937(13) | | | | | | 11.4% | | |
New York, NY 10036
Banks and Brokerage Firms, Please Call: (212) 297-0720
Stockholders and All Others Call Toll-Free: (844) 343-2621
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com