COURT RESTRAINS RESIDENT DOCTORS FROM EMBARKING ON STRIKE. (PHOTO).
Warner Bros again rejects Paramount takeover, urges shareholders to back Netflix bid
Warner Bros. Discovery again rejected a takeover bid from Paramount on Wednesday, telling shareholders to continue backing a competing deal with Netflix that the company says offers greater value and far more certainty. The board said it reviewed Paramount’s revised proposal and concluded it still falls short of what is best for the company and its investors, despite Paramount’s efforts to sweeten its hostile offer. Warner’s leadership has consistently pushed shareholders to support the $72 billion agreement with Netflix, which would involve the sale of its studio and streaming assets, while Paramount has pursued a $77.9 billion bid to acquire the entire company. Warner executives argued that Paramount’s proposal relies heavily on debt and lacks sufficient safeguards for shareholders if the deal fails to close, while the Netflix transaction is structured to deliver clearer value with fewer financial risks.
The competing offers reflect fundamentally different visions for Warner’s future. Netflix is seeking to acquire only the company’s studio and streaming businesses, including its film and television production operations and platforms such as HBO Max, with Warner’s news and cable networks set to be spun off into a separate company under a previously announced plan. Paramount, by contrast, is aiming to buy Warner in its entirety, including major cable networks like CNN and Discovery. Paramount has attempted to bolster confidence in its bid by securing additional financial backing and increasing the payout promised to shareholders if regulators block the deal, but Warner said those changes did not alleviate its concerns. Any transaction with either company is expected to face intense antitrust scrutiny in the United States and abroad and could take more than a year to complete. Industry groups have warned that both deals could accelerate consolidation in entertainment, potentially leading to job losses, reduced competition, and fewer choices for audiences, adding further pressure as shareholders weigh which path Warner should take.
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