Wed, 25 Feb 2026

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 Paramount boosts Warner Bros offer to rival Netflix in takeover bid

Warner Bros says the latest proposal could convince it to abandon the deal it struck with Netflix.
Paramount's proposal to buy Warner Bros Discovery has been increased by $1 per share, making it a more attractive offer. The company's board believes this new bid "could reasonably be expected to lead to a superior proposal". Warner Bros will engage in further talks with Paramount before deciding whether to abandon its deal with Netflix. If the deal is abandoned, Netflix would have four days to make a counter-offer. In an interview, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos declined to say if they were prepared for a bidding war. He stated that the company likes the current deal and are disciplined buyers. Paramount's original proposal was for $30 per share, but now they're offering $31 per share in cash, with additional money due if completion is delayed. They've also agreed to pay $7bn should the deal fall through. The proposed merger between Warner Bros and Netflix has raised concerns among lawmakers about potential monopoly issues and the impact on the entertainment industry. Warner Bros board will continue to engage in talks with Paramount to determine if a superior proposal can be reached, but no final decision has been made yet. Lawmakers have expressed concerns that both proposals could lead to price rises and negatively affect cinemas.
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