Paramount and Skydance Face Merger Challenge from Project Rise Partners, Skydance Denies Fraud Allegations

Skydance is fighting back against Project Rise Partners' challenge to the Paramount merger, calling the upstart bidder's offer "belated and unserious" and accusing it of "fraudulently misrepresented itself." Meanwhile, Paramount is preparing for the SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas, with interactive experiences promoting various Paramount properties. Analysts have a Hold consensus rating on PARA stock, with an average price target of $12.50 per share implying 8.98% upside potential.

The media and entertainment industry is abuzz with the latest development in the ongoing battle for Paramount Global's merger. Skydance Media, in collaboration with RedBird Capital Partners, is facing a challenge from an unexpected source: Project Rise Partners. According to a legal letter obtained by Variety [1], the consortium, which previously bid on Paramount, is making an eleventh-hour offer of $13.5 billion, which they claim is superior to Skydance and RedBird's $8 billion deal.

Paramount's special committee, overseeing the sale process, has reiterated their stance, stating that they are bound by their agreement with Skydance and will not engage with Project Rise Partners [1]. The committee also mentioned that they contacted over 50 third parties during the go-shop period but Project Rise Partners did not make a proposal during that time.

Project Rise Partners' offer includes a premium of 75% for the B shares and an additional $2 billion added to the balance sheet. The offer is all-cash, with committed financing from credible investors [1]. However, the identity of these investors remains largely unknown outside of Daphna Edwards Ziman, president and co-chairman of film and lifestyle TV network Cinémoi, and Moses Gross, founder of the investment firm MVision [1].

As the two parties engage in this corporate drama, Paramount is preparing for the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival in Austin, Texas, with interactive experiences promoting various Paramount properties [2]. The festival, known for its unique blend of films, music, and interactive experiences, is an opportunity for Paramount to showcase its content and engage with fans.

Analysts currently have a Hold consensus rating on Paramount Global stock (PARA), with an average price target of $12.50 per share, implying 8.98% upside potential [3]. The uncertainty surrounding the merger and the potential impact of the new offer on PARA's stock price will likely continue to be closely watched by investors.

References:
[1] Variety. (2025, January 24). Paramount board committee asserts there will be no engagement on $13.5 billion offer from Project Rise Partners. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/paramount-project-rise-partners-13-5-billion-offer-skydance-1236284815/
[2] Paramount. (n.d.). SXSW 2025. https://www.paramount.com/sxsw/
[3] Yahoo Finance. (n.d.). Paramount Global Inc. (PARA). https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PARA/?p=PARA