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Skydance

All articles tagged with #skydance

entertainment1 day ago•20 min saved

Einbinder Defends Ruffalo as Antisemitism Claims Roil Studio Merger

Hannah Einbinder publicly defended Mark Ruffalo after Paramount accused him of antisemitism for linking Larry Ellison’s Oracle funding to the Israeli military, in the wake of his opposition to Paramount Global’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Einbinder, who has spoken out on Palestinian rights, posted a lengthy message praising Ruffalo and arguing that his criticisms target oligarchs and corporate consolidation—not Jewish people—and that artists should stand with workers who could lose thousands of jobs if the deal goes through.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#antisemitism #entertainment #hannah-einbinder

business1 month ago•3 min saved

Paramount-Skydance-Warner Merger Frozen Pending Antitrust Trial

Paramount Global and Skydance will pause their roughly $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until June 1, 2027 (absent a ruling earlier), as a federal antitrust lawsuit by a coalition of state attorneys general proceeds. The extension follows a temporary pause while a judge weighs claims the deal would lessen competition across film distribution, top-grossing releases, and basic cable channels. Paramount says the pause moves toward a trial; the stock fell more than 3% after the news.

via NBC News|

#antitrust #business #merger

business1 month ago•17 min saved

Paramount Shareholder Targets Ellisons Over WBD Pursuit, Paramount Responds

A Paramount shareholder filed a derivative lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court against CEO David Ellison, Larry Ellison, and Paramount’s board, alleging breach of fiduciary duty in pursuing the Warner Bros. Discovery merger and claiming promises to overhaul CNN and other actions were made to secure regulatory approval. Paramount pushed back, saying the suit recycles previously reported allegations and that no commitments were made to any government body beyond delivering truthful journalism, while maintaining the merger’s merits. The filing follows other antitrust challenges and lawsuits related to the deal from state attorneys general, WGA, and Paramount+ subscribers.

via Deadline|

#business #cnn #ellison

business1 month ago•16 min saved

Paramount-Skydance Antitrust Case Linked to Paramount+ Subscriber Suit

Paramount and Skydance agreed to link their federal antitrust challenge to a pre-existing Paramount+ subscriber suit over the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, a move likely to consolidate the cases before Judge Martinez-Olguin in California; Paramount joined the states’ bid, which seeks injunctions to block the deal, with a hearing set on injunctions and a motion to dismiss.

via Variety|

#antitrust #business #paramount

business1 month ago•377 min saved

States Seek to Halt $110B Hollywood Megamerger

Twelve state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the merged entity would reduce competition in the entertainment and media industries; they asked the court to pause closing until litigation resolves, despite the DOJ having cleared the deal a month earlier.

via NBC News|

#antitrust #business #merger

business1 month ago•15 min saved

Oregon Withdraws Bid to Delay Paramount-Warner Merger as Closing Looms

The Oregon Attorney General withdrew its motion to delay the closing of the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, which could close as soon as July 22 even as several states review the deal for antitrust issues. The AG had asked for a 60-day extension to investigate and sought records about Paramount Skydance and the “Project Warrior” effort, but the motion was dropped after Paramount argued the requests were irrelevant. The ruling clears the path for closing, with Paramount noting global regulators have largely cleared the deal or found no competition concerns, while Oregon remains open to next steps as other regulators continue their reviews.

via Variety|

#antitrust #business #oregon-ag

business2 months ago•20 min saved

Paramount Seeks Dismissal of Antitrust Challenge to Warner Bros. Merger

Paramount asked a California federal court to dismiss a federal antitrust lawsuit brought by five Paramount+ subscribers who sought to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the plaintiffs’ claims lack factual support and amount to a politicized use of antitrust law. The suit also targets Skydance Media’s merger with Paramount Global (completed Aug. 2025). Plaintiffs say the deal would raise prices and reduce viewing options, while Paramount contends the merger will boost competition, investment and content. A hearing is scheduled for July 16 in Oakland, and the case has drawn significant industry and political attention.

via Variety|

#antitrust #business #mergers

entertainment3 months ago•13 min saved

Letterman Slams CBS Bosses as Colbert’s Finale Approaches

David Letterman, in a New York Times interview, blasted CBS executives—calling them “lying weasels”—over canceling The Late Show as Stephen Colbert prepares his final episode. He questioned CBS and Skydance’s financial rationale, suggested the deal prioritized money over people, and praised Byron Allen as a more credible successor, while Colbert expressed skepticism about CBS’s stated reasons for the show's demise.

via Mediaite|

#cbs #david-letterman #entertainment

business3 months ago•17 min saved

Paramount Subscribers Sue to Block Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Over Antitrust Fears

Paramount subscribers filed a California federal lawsuit to block Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery and Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, arguing the consolidation would substantially lessen competition across streaming, news, and theatrical distribution, raise prices, reduce output, and diminish consumer choice. The complaint suggests the merged entity would rank among the largest streaming platforms and be a major news player, with regulators including the DOJ and California AG reviewing the deal. Paramount calls the suit meritless, marking the first public antitrust challenge to this Hollywood consolidation trend.

via The Hollywood Reporter|

#antitrust #business #merger

business3 months ago•17 min saved

Paramount+ Subscribers Sue to Block Megamerger with Warner Bros. Discovery

A small group of Paramount+ subscribers filed a federal antitrust lawsuit aiming to block Paramount Global's $110 billion merger with Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging higher prices and fewer viewing options post-merger. The suit seeks an injunction, divestiture of Skydance’s Paramount stake, and triple damages under the Clayton Act, though private antitrust cases rarely prevail; Paramount argues the deal will create a stronger, more competitive platform. Regulators or state coalitions could still challenge the transaction.

via Variety|

#antitrust #business #merger

business4 months ago•15 min saved

Shell’s 2025 Pay Surpasses $60 Million Amid Paramount Shakeup

Former Paramount president Jeff Shell’s 2025 compensation totaled about $60.7 million, largely from $58.7 million in stock awards and a $1.4 million base salary, plus a roughly $5 million cash severance under a separation agreement. The disclosure comes as Skydance’s David Ellison remains linked to Paramount post-merger, and Shell’s April departure followed a breach-of-contract suit, with other executives also noted for substantial pay packages in the SEC filing.

via Deadline|

#business #executive-compensation #jeff-shell

business4 months ago•18 min saved

Paramount-Skydance Deal Clears Another Hurdle as WBD Shareholders Vote

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved a $31-per-share cash sale to David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance, a major step in a deal valued at about $81 billion in equity and $110 billion enterprise. CEO compensation tied to the merger was rejected by shareholders (non-binding). Pending regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close in Q3 2026, with a 25-cent-a-share ticking fee if closing is delayed. The financing involves multi‑billion equity backing from the Ellison/RedBird group and $49 billion in debt commitments, and the merger faces antitrust scrutiny and industry pushback.

via Deadline|

#business #merger #paramount

business4 months ago•16 min saved

Paramount-Skydance Restructure Debt to Back WBD Merger

Paramount Skydance restructured debt financing for its proposed $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery deal, reducing long‑term debt commitments from $54B to $49B, axing the $3.5B revolver, and boosting liquidity to $5B ahead of closing; permanent financing now envisions a $5B Term Loan A and a $5B revolver in the combined entity, with bridge facilities syndicated across 18 banks, while equity funding from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and LionTree—about $24B in total including roughly $10B from Saudi PIF—supports the merger pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.

via Variety|

#business #debt-financing #merger

business4 months ago•4 min saved

Paramount chief resigns amid fraud suit in high-stakes Vegas dispute

Paramount President Jeff Shell is stepping down after eight months amid a legal battle with Las Vegas gambler R.J. Cipriani, who alleges fraud and breach of contract; Shell denies the claims and Cipriani’s allegations are disputed, with Paramount's Gibson Dunn review finding no securities-law violations. Shell also resigns from Paramount’s board to focus on the case as Paramount Skydance advances its merger plans with Warner Bros. Discovery and navigates regulatory approvals.

via Los Angeles Times|

#business #cipriani #jeff-shell

business5 months ago•5 min saved

Restroom Tampon Incident Helps Derail Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger

A months-long bid for Warner Bros. Discovery faltered amid antitrust concerns and GOP opposition to Netflix’s potential monopoly and political influence. A visit by a congressional delegation to Netflix HQ coincided with reports of a tampon basket in the men’s room, dubbed the “Tampon Incident,” which critics cited as symbolic of Netflix’s alleged progressive tilt. With Paramount-backed Skydance raising its offer to about $80.5 billion, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos decided not to engage in a costly bidding war and canceled the nearly completed $73 billion purchase, a setback framed by critics as a political blow to Netflix even as executives argued the company faces competition rather than a political agenda.

via New York Post|

#business #netflix #paramount