A mystery Singapore-based company named Nobelis Capital attempted to gatecrash the takeover of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) by Paramount Skydance, according to the studio's latest SEC filing. Nobelis Capital made an unsolicited offer of $32.50 per share in February, just as the $31 per share Paramount deal was finalizing. The proposal lacked evidence of financing but claimed Nobelis had deposited $7.5bn into a JPMorgan escrow account to cover WBD's $700mn termination fee and an additional $10bn deposit with HSBC for other costs. WBD's advisors found no evidence Nobelis owned assets or controlled the deposits. Sami Midani, listed on LinkedIn as an international banking executive, is linked to Nobelis, though his exact role remains unclear.

Midani, also tied to Nobelis Airports, faces legal threats from Nobelis demanding a $3.5bn termination fee plus reimbursement for their escrow setup. This secretive attempt adds intrigue to WBD's complex takeover saga.