Skydance Secures $49 Billion to Fund Paramount-WBD Mega Merger

David Ellison's Skydance Media has locked down the massive funding needed to acquire Paramount Global and merge it with Warner Bros. Discovery. A consortium of 18 banks has finalized a $49 billion debt package, which includes $5 billion in senior term loans and a $5 billion revolving credit facility. This replaces a previous, larger $54 billion proposal, indicating a more conservative and achievable financing structure.

The loans are secured by a first-priority claim on all assets of the combined company, including Paramount, Skydance, and Warner Bros. itself. This structure gives lenders strong security, which was likely crucial in securing their participation for such a large sum.

The deal's financing is set to be one of the largest debt packages of the year. Once the merger closes, the new combined company is expected to carry nearly $80 billion in net debt. For context, Paramount had about $10.36 billion in net debt last year, while Warner Bros. Discovery held roughly $29 billion.

In addition to the bank syndicate, sovereign wealth funds like Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Abu Dhabi’s L’imad Holding Co are reported to be involved. With financing now secured, the deal could reportedly close as soon as the end of July, moving from speculation to near-certainty.

For any mega-merger, securing financing is the single biggest hurdle. This announcement means the deal has cleared its most significant obstacle, dramatically increasing the probability it will actually happen. The market hates uncertainty, and this news provides a clear path forward.

The sheer scale of the debt—nearly $80 billion in net debt for the combined entity—will define the new company's strategy for years. This massive leverage means cost-cutting, asset sales, and aggressive cash flow generation will be immediate priorities to service the debt, which could lead to significant restructuring.

For the streaming wars, this creates a new, heavily indebted but content-rich competitor to Netflix and Disney. The combined library of Paramount and Warner Bros. is enormous, potentially giving the new entity more leverage in bundling and licensing deals. However, its debt burden may limit its ability to spend freely on new content.

The reduced total debt commitment from the original $54 billion proposal to $49 billion is a positive signal. It shows the banks and Skydance negotiated a more manageable structure, which should ease investor concerns about the company's financial flexibility post-merger.

Finally, the involvement of prestigious sovereign wealth funds adds a layer of credibility and long-term financial backing. It suggests that deep-pocketed investors see strategic value in creating this media giant, beyond just the short-term bank financing.