Market
Primary reason for TikTok's status change in the U.S. by March 31, 2025?
2
Frank McCourt•Project Liberty•TikTok•ByteDance•Shark Tank•Guggenheim Securities•American•Chinese•McCourt•Donald Trump
Resolution / Starting Odds
Acquisition by U.S. entity • 25%
Government ban • 25%
Voluntary withdrawal • 25%
No change • 25%
Official government statements, official announcements from ByteDance or acquiring entity, major news outlets
Story
Frank McCourt's Group, Including Kevin O'Leary, Bids for TikTok's U.S. Assets, Serving 170 Million Users, Without Algorithm
Jan 9, 2025, 07:30 PM
A consortium led by billionaire Frank McCourt, through his organization Project Liberty, has made a formal bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets from its parent company ByteDance. The proposal comes ahead of a January 19 deadline, after which TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S. unless ByteDance divests the platform. The group, which includes 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary and is backed by investment firm Guggenheim Securities, as well as technologists and academics including world wide web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, aims to purchase TikTok's U.S. operations, serving about 170 million users, without its current algorithm and plans to rebuild it on American technology, in response to a Chinese export control rule. The financial backing for the bid includes interest from major private equity funds, family offices, and high net worth individuals, as well as debt financing from one of the largest U.S. banks. McCourt expressed optimism about working with ByteDance and President-elect Donald Trump to finalize the deal, emphasizing the goal of keeping the platform operational for millions of American users while enhancing privacy and trust.
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Other reasons • 25%
Diplomatic negotiations • 25%
Economic interests • 25%
National security concerns • 25%
Other reasons • 25%
National security concerns • 25%
Financial offer acceptance • 25%
Legal settlements • 25%
Ownership change • 25%
Other • 25%
Political negotiation • 25%
Security agreement • 25%
Biden administration intervention • 25%
Compliance with court ruling • 25%
Other reason • 25%
Legal action by TikTok • 25%
Other • 25%
TikTok is banned • 25%
TikTok remains operational with ByteDance ownership • 25%
TikTok remains operational with new ownership • 25%
Legal Appeal Success • 25%
Policy Change • 25%
Business Acquisition • 25%
Other • 25%
National Security • 25%
Economic Impact • 25%
Diplomatic Relations • 25%
Public Opinion • 25%
Other • 25%
90-day extension granted • 25%
Banned • 25%
Deal finalized • 25%
Operates independently • 25%
Banned • 25%
Government stake • 25%
Acquired by U.S. company • 25%
Other resolution • 25%
Banned and inaccessible • 25%
Sold to U.S. company • 25%
Continues under ByteDance • 25%
Other • 25%
TikTok available with ByteDance divestment • 25%
Unchanged • 25%
Other outcome • 25%
TikTok banned in the US • 25%
Divested • 25%
Banned • 25%
TikTok remains available without changes • 25%
