Item 1A. Risk Factors

Investors should carefully review and consider the information regarding certain factors that could materially affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows as set forth under Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and as supplemented by the updated and additional risk factors described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe not to be material may also adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Risk Factors Related to the Combination of Discovery and AT&T’s WarnerMedia Business

On May 17, 2021, the Company, our wholly owned subsidiary Drake Subsidiary, Inc., AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”) and AT&T’s wholly owned subsidiary Magallanes, Inc. entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which and subject to the terms and conditions therein (1) AT&T will transfer the business, operations and activities that constitute the WarnerMedia segment of AT&T, subject to certain exceptions (the “WarnerMedia Business”) to Magallanes, Inc. (such transfer, the “Separation”), (2) AT&T will distribute to its stockholders the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Magallanes, Inc. held by AT&T (such distribution, the “Distribution”) and (3) Drake Subsidiary, Inc. will merge with and into Magallanes, Inc. with Magallanes, Inc. as the surviving entity and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (such merger, the “Merger” and the Separation, Distribution and Merger collectively, the “Combination”).

The pendency of the proposed Combination may cause disruption in our business.

The definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) related to the Combination restricts us from taking specified actions without AT&T’s consent until the Combination is completed or the Merger Agreement is terminated, including making certain significant acquisitions or investments, entering into certain new lines of business, incurring certain indebtedness in excess of certain thresholds, making non-ordinary course capital expenditures, amending or modifying certain material contracts, divesting certain assets (including certain intellectual property rights), and making certain non-ordinary course changes to personnel and employee compensation. These restrictions and others more fully described in the Merger Agreement may affect our ability to execute our business strategies and attain our financial and other goals and may impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The pendency of the proposed Combination could cause disruptions to our business or business relationships, which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Parties with which we have business relationships, including distributors, advertisers and content providers, may be uncertain as to the future of such relationships and may delay or defer certain business decisions, seek alternative relationships with third parties or seek to alter their present business relationships with us. Parties with whom we otherwise may have sought to establish business relationships may seek alternative relationships with third parties.

The pursuit of the Combination and the preparation for the integration of the WarnerMedia Business is expected to place a significant burden on our management and internal resources. The diversion of management’s attention away from day-to-day business concerns and any difficulties encountered in the transition and integration process could adversely affect our financial results.

We have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs, expenses and fees for professional services and other transaction costs in connection with the Combination. We may also incur unanticipated costs in the integration of the WarnerMedia Business with the business of Discovery. The substantial majority of these costs will be non-recurring expenses relating to the Combination, and many of these costs are payable regardless of whether or not the Combination is consummated. We also could be subject to litigation related to the proposed Combination, which could prevent or delay the consummation of the Combination and result in significant costs and expenses.

Failure to complete the Combination in a timely manner or at all could negatively impact the market price of our common stock, as well as our future business and our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We currently anticipate the Combination will be completed in mid-2022, but the Combination cannot be completed until conditions to closing are satisfied or (if permissible under applicable law) waived. The Combination is subject to numerous closing conditions, including approval by Discovery’s stockholders, receipt of certain regulatory approvals, AT&T’s receipt of a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the qualification of the Distribution and certain related transactions for tax-free treatment under the Internal Revenue Code and AT&T's receipt of a special cash payment in accordance with the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Discovery, AT&T and Magallanes, Inc.

The satisfaction of the required conditions could delay the completion of the Combination for a significant period of time or prevent it from occurring. Further, there can be no assurance that the conditions to the closing of the Combination will be satisfied or waived or that the Combination will be completed.

If the Combination is not completed in a timely manner or at all, our ongoing business may be adversely affected as follows:

• we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, and our stock price could decline to the extent that the current market price reflects an assumption that the Combination will be completed;

• we may experience negative reactions from employees, customers, suppliers or other third parties;

• we may be subject to litigation, which could result in significant costs and expenses;

• management’s focus may have been diverted from day-to-day business operations and pursuing other opportunities that could have been beneficial to Discovery; and

• our costs of pursuing the Combination may be higher than anticipated.

In addition to the above risks, we may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay AT&T a termination fee equal to $720 million and/or to reimburse or indemnify AT&T for certain of its expenses. If the Combination is not consummated, there can be no assurance that these risks will not materialize and will not materially adversely affect our stock price, business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In order to complete the Combination, Discovery and AT&T must obtain certain governmental approvals, and if such approvals are not granted or are granted with conditions, completion of the Combination may be jeopardized or the anticipated benefits of the Combination could be reduced.

Although Discovery and AT&T have agreed to use reasonable best efforts, subject to certain limitations, to make certain governmental filings and obtain the required governmental approvals or expiration or earlier termination of relevant waiting periods, as the case may be, there can be no assurance that the relevant waiting periods will expire or be terminated or that the relevant approvals will be obtained. As a condition to approving the Combination, these governmental authorities may impose conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions or require divestitures or place restrictions on the conduct of our business after completion of the Combination. There can be no assurance that regulators will not impose conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions and that such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying or preventing completion of the Combination or imposing additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of the combined company following the Combination, or otherwise adversely affecting, including to a material extent, our businesses and results of operations after completion of the Combination. If we or the WarnerMedia Business are required to divest assets or businesses, there can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate such divestitures expeditiously or on favorable terms or that the governmental authorities will approve the terms of such divestitures. We can provide no assurance that these conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not result in the abandonment of the Combination.

Although we expect that the Combination will result in synergies and other benefits to us, we may not realize those benefits because of difficulties related to integration, the achievement of such synergies, and other challenges.

Discovery and the WarnerMedia Business have operated and, until completion of the Combination, will continue to operate, independently, and there can be no assurances that our businesses can be combined in a manner that allows for the achievement of substantial benefits. If we are not able to successfully integrate the WarnerMedia Business with ours or pursue our direct-to-consumer strategy successfully, including coordinating our streaming services for global customers, the anticipated benefits, including synergies, of the Combination may not be realized fully or may take longer than expected to be realized. Specifically, the following issues, among others, must be addressed in combining the operations of Discovery and the WarnerMedia Business in order to realize the anticipated benefits of the Combination:

• combining the businesses of Discovery and the WarnerMedia Business in a manner that permits us to achieve the synergies anticipated to result from the Combination, the failure of which would result in the anticipated benefits of the Combination not being realized in the time frame currently anticipated or at all;

• maintaining existing agreements with customers, distributors, providers, talent and vendors and avoiding delays in entering into new agreements with prospective customers, distributors, providers, talent and vendors;

• combining certain of the businesses’ corporate functions;

• determining whether and how to address possible differences in corporate cultures and management philosophies;

• integrating the businesses’ administrative and information technology infrastructure;

• integrating employees and attracting and retaining key personnel, including talent;

• managing the expanded operations of a significantly larger and more complex company;

• coordinating the businesses’ direct-to-consumer streaming services for global customers; and

• resolving potential unknown liabilities, adverse consequences and unforeseen increased expenses associated with the Combination.

Even if the operations of our business and the business of the WarnerMedia Business are integrated successfully, the full benefits of the Combination may not be realized, including, among others, the synergies that are expected. These benefits may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame or at all. Additional unanticipated costs may also be incurred in the integration of our business and the business of the WarnerMedia Business. Further, it is possible that there could be loss of key Discovery or WarnerMedia Business employees, loss of customers, disruption of either or both of Discovery’s or WarnerMedia Business’ ongoing businesses or unexpected issues, higher than expected costs and an overall post-completion process that takes longer than originally anticipated. All of these factors could materially adversely affect our stock price, business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Our consolidated indebtedness will increase substantially following completion of the Combination. This increased level of indebtedness could adversely affect us, including by decreasing our business flexibility.

Our consolidated indebtedness as of September 30, 2021 was approximately $15.2 billion. Upon completion of the Combination, we will become responsible for up to approximately $43.0 billion of additional debt, including existing debt of the existing WarnerMedia Business, and debt that may be issued by Magallanes, Inc. to fund the transactions, with the ultimate amount of such debt to be issued subject to certain adjustments, including for net working capital. In addition, subject to certain conditions, availability under our revolving credit facility will increase from $2.5 billion to $6.0 billion. The increased indebtedness could have the effect of, among other things, reducing our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions, increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions and limiting our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. In addition, the amount of cash required to pay interest on our indebtedness levels will increase following completion of the Combination, and thus the demands on our cash resources will be greater than prior to the Combination. The increased levels of indebtedness following completion of the Combination could also reduce funds available for capital expenditures, share repurchases, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other activities and may create competitive disadvantages for us relative to other companies with lower debt levels.

Following consummation of the Combination, our corporate or debt-specific credit rating could be downgraded, which may increase our borrowing costs or give rise to a need to refinance existing indebtedness. If a ratings downgrade occurs, we may need to refinance existing debt or be subject to higher borrowing costs and more restrictive covenants when we incur new debt in the future, which could reduce profitability and diminish operational flexibility.

Risk Factors Related to our International Operations

We are subject to risks related to our international operations.

We have operations through which we distribute programming outside the United States. As a result, our business is subject to certain risks inherent in international business, many of which are beyond our control. These risks include:

• laws and policies affecting trade and taxes, including laws and policies relating to the repatriation of funds and withholding taxes, and changes in these laws;

• changes in local regulatory requirements, including restrictions on content, imposition of local content quotas and restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership;

• our ability to obtain the appropriate licenses and other regulatory approvals we need to broadcast content in foreign countries;

• differing degrees of protection for intellectual property and varying attitudes towards the piracy of intellectual property;

• significant fluctuations in foreign currency value;

• currency exchange controls;

• the instability of foreign economies and governments;

• war and acts of terrorism;

• anti-corruption laws and regulations such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act that impose stringent requirements on how we conduct our foreign operations and changes in these laws and regulations;

• foreign privacy and data protection laws and regulation and changes in these laws; and

• shifting consumer preferences regarding the viewing of video programming.

Events or developments related to these and other risks associated with international trade could adversely affect our revenues from non-U.S. sources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects. Acts of terrorism, hostilities, or financial, political, economic or other uncertainties could lead to a reduction in revenue or loss of investment, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Furthermore, some foreign markets where we and our partners operate may be more adversely affected by current economic conditions than the U.S. We also may incur substantial expense as a result of changes, including the imposition of new restrictions, in the existing economic or political environment in the regions where we do business. This is of particular concern in Poland, where we operate TVN, a key component of our international business, and where the government previously considered, and may reconsider or adopt in the future, regulations that would prohibit non-European Union ownership of Polish licensed free-to-air and pay-TV channels. If such regulations are ever adopted, it could impact the ownership structure and licensing of TVN, and could, directly or indirectly, affect the operations of our Polish media properties and/or modify the terms under which we offer our services and operate in that market.

General Risks

Domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely impact our operating results.

Programming services like ours, and the distributors of our services, including cable operators, satellite operators and other multi-channel video programming distributors, are regulated by U.S. federal laws and regulations issued and administered by various federal agencies, including the FCC, as well as by state and local governments, in ways that affect the daily conduct of our video content business. See the discussion under “Business – Regulatory Matters” that appears in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The U.S. Congress, the FCC and the courts currently have under consideration, and may adopt or interpret in the future, new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could, directly or indirectly, affect the operations of our U.S. media properties or modify the terms under which we offer our services and operate.

Similarly, the foreign jurisdictions in which our networks are offered have, in varying degrees, laws and regulations governing our businesses. Programming businesses are subject to regulation on a country-by-country basis. Changes in regulations imposed by foreign governments could also adversely affect our business, results of operations and ability to expand our operations beyond their current scope. The Polish government previously considered, and may reconsider or adopt in the future, regulations that would prohibit non-European Union ownership of Polish licensed free-to-air and pay-TV channels. If such regulations are ever adopted, it could impact the ownership structure and licensing of TVN, which is a key component of our international business, and could, directly or indirectly, affect the operations of our Polish media properties and/or modify the terms under which we offer our services and operate in that market.

The market price of our common stock has been highly volatile and may continue to be volatile due to circumstances beyond our control.

The market price of our common stock has fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate, widely, due to many factors, some of which may be beyond our control. These factors include, without limitation:

• large stockholders exiting their position in our common stock;

• an increase or decrease in the short interest in our common stock;

• comments by securities analysts or other third parties, including blogs, articles, message boards, and social and other media;

• actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial and operating results;

• risks and uncertainties associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;

• development and provision of programming for new television and telecommunications technologies and the success of our new discovery+ streaming product;

• spending on domestic and foreign television advertising;

• changes in the distribution and viewing of television programming, including the expanded deployment of personal video recorders, subscription video on demand, internet protocol television, mobile personal devices, and personal tablets and their impact on television advertising revenue;

• fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

• public perception of us, our competitors, or industry; and

• overall general market fluctuations.

Stock markets in general and our stock price in particular have recently experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies and our company. For example, on March 26, 2021, our Series A common stock experienced an intra-day trading high of $58.21 per share and a low of $34.60 per share while our Series C common stock experienced an intra-day trading high of $51.36 and a low of $30.99 per share. In addition, from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, the closing price of our Series A common stock and our Series C common stock on the Nasdaq ranged from as low as $19.27 and $17.44 to as high as $77.27 and $66.00, respectively, and daily trading volume ranged from approximately 1.9 million and 0.6 million shares to 106.1 million and 45.7 million shares, respectively. During this time, we have not experienced any material changes in our financial condition or results of operations that would explain such price volatility or trading volume. In particular, sales of large blocks of our Series A common stock and Series C common stock on and after March 26, 2021, reportedly conducted by financial institutions unwinding hedge positions associated with margin calls against Archegos Management put pressure on the supply and demand for our common stock, further influencing volatility in its market price. These market fluctuations and trading activities have caused and may in the future cause the market price and demand for our common stock to fluctuate substantially, which may negatively affect the price and liquidity of our common stock.