Scoop w/Lauren Hirsch: Paramount's special committee met yesterday and signed off on opening negotiations with Sony. The two companies are now talking about a deal through intermediaries:
nytimes.com/2024/05/05/bus…

Is It Good to Go Exclusive? $para nytimes.com/2024/05/04/bus…

Buffett says Berkshire sold its entire Paramount stake $para cnbc.com/2024/05/04/buf…

NEWS, w/Lauren Hirsch: Paramount's special committee has informed Skydance it won't extend exclusivity, effectively icing the deal. Paramount's special committee is meeting tomorrow to discuss next steps — likely a combination with Apollo/Sony
nytimes.com/2024/05/03/bus…
$PARA

'The reason the Fed Chair is not a political role is because sometimes the Fed Chair has to do unpopular things.'

Stephanie Ruhle breaks down reporting that Trump allies want to curb the independence of the Federal Reserve with ron insana and Lauren Hirsch.

The twists keep coming!

Sony and Apollo submitted a letter expressing interest in acquiring Paramount for $26bn in cash w Ben Mullin $PARA

nytimes.com/2024/05/02/bus…

In today’s DealBook: @laurenshirsch examines the questions swirling over Paramount after C.E.O. Bob Bakish was pushed out; @bernhardwarner on the Fed’s “new normal” problem; new unrest on campus; Ephrat Livni on crypto’s pushback; and more. nyti.ms/3Uon0Ka

Bob Bakish steps down. He's entitled to severance worth $50.6 million. a/Lauren Hirsch
nytimes.com/2024/04/29/bus…
$PARA

scoop w/Lauren Hirsch: Skydance just added a sweetener to its bid for Paramount — increasing its cash infusion for the combined company to $3 billion.

That money will be used for buybacks and paying down debt. $PARA

nytimes.com/2024/04/29/bus…

Latest on paramount deal talks w ⁦Ben Mullin⁩ $para nytimes.com/2024/04/29/bus…

My Latest: Missed deals, revolting shareholders and a CEO on the outs. How Shari Redstone's merger plans for Paramount devolved into one of the messiest corporate dramas in memory wsj.com/business/media… via The Wall Street Journal

scoop w/Lauren Hirsch Paramount is planning to announce the departure of its chief executive, Bob Bakish, as soon as next week:
nytimes.com/2024/04/26/bus…

NEW w/ Lauren Hirsch: The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued to block Tapestry’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri, a blockbuster fashion tie-up that would bring together Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Versace nytimes.com/2024/04/22/bus…

In this weekend's DealBook newsletter: Can the buzz around basketball star Caitlin Clark help the W.N.B.A. become a sustainable business? Lauren Hirsch & Tania Ganguli on the big commercial challenges and opportunities in professional women's sports. nyti.ms/49FL7Kd

Paramount is jumping in after market trading following scoop w ⁦Ben Mullin⁩ that Sony is in talks w Apollo to lodge a joint bid. $para nytimes.com/2024/04/18/bus…

scoop: Sony is in talks to team up with Apollo on a bid for Paramount. w/Lauren Hirsch:
nytimes.com/2024/04/18/bus…

$PARA

How an Obscure Chinese Real Estate Start-Up Paved the Way to TikTok

New w ⁦Mara Hvistendahl⁩ nytimes.com/2024/04/18/bus…

Some takeaways:
- ByteDance was originally called Xiangping
- Zhang Yiming created a prototype called Pretty Babes （an investor's translation; the Chinese was 真实美女）
- The firm of Republican megadonor Jeff Yass was deeply involved
w/ Lauren Hirsch nytimes.com/2024/04/18/bus…

In today’s DealBook: @laurenshirsch on the Masters & the unresolved fight between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf; @sarahfkessler talks to David Sanger about companies & national security; & how Norway’s sovereign wealth fund boss became a podcast star. nyti.ms/3UjH9m8