Paramount defends that its hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is a better deal than the Netflix deal because it gives more money to shareholders and has a better chance of winning regulatory approval. On the regulatory side, Paramount could play with marked cards … . In documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company mentions that among the financiers of the operation will be Affinity Partnersa venture capital company. This company has a direct relationship with the government: it is the investment vehicle for Jared Kushnerthe son-in-law of Donald Trumpmarried to who has always been his favorite daughter, Ivanka.
In other words: if US government regulators reject the agreement between Netflix And Warner and they are in favor of the repurchase of primordialsomeone close to the president would be a direct beneficiary. This conflict of interest would not be something unusual in Trump’s second term, where his government deals abroad – notably in the Persian Gulf countries – have been accompanied by succulent deals for his children, ranging from real estate developments to formidable investments in his real estate businesses. cryptofinance.
Trump himself has made no secret that he could intervene in the operation. A few hours before the hostile takeover became known, during a cultural gala at the Washington Kennedy Centerthe US president spoke enthusiastically about Netflix CEO, Ted Sarandosbut also showed doubts about the operation with Warner. “It has a very large market share,” he said of Netflix. “And if they stay at Warner, those fees will go up significantly,” he added before warning of regulatory approval: “I’m going to be involved in that decision,” he said, burying any illusion that regulators would act independently.
Kushner was an adviser to Trump in the White House during his first term. After the New York billionaire returned to power, he no longer holds an official position in the government, but he has been directly involved in the two main foreign policy issues: the Gaza peace agreement and, latterly, the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Also among the financiers of Paramount’s hostile takeover are sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, with whom Kushner – and Trump – have established very close relationships.
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