Paramount readies debt for Warner Bros. deal
It’s one of the most highly anticipated credit launches this year.
David Ellison's victory in the $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery has now led to a financial obligation. The agreement reached with state attorneys general requires Paramount to issue $49 billion in debt, predominantly loans and bonds anticipated to be investment-grade. This credit launch is anticipated to be one of the most significant this year, as it marks a new issuance in a sea of refinancings.
The issuance is not related to data centers but rather a massive media deal that has garnered investor interest. Notably, Electronic Arts successfully raised $20 billion in debt when it went private last year. The settlement also eliminates concerns that state attorneys general would act as a counterbalance to the Trump Justice Department's relatively lenient antitrust enforcement.
Even in California, where Rob Bonta settled for less than he desired, and Connecticut's AG expressed disappointment at not being able to secure more, the deal has been finalized. This report is based on information provided by Ellen DiMauro and Rohan Goswami.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
