Paramount Wins 68th Approval for $111 Billion WBD Deal as 12 State AGs Sue
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Aug 14
Paramount Wins 68th Approval for $111 Billion WBD Deal as 12 State AGs Sue
3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Aug 14
Summary
Mexico cleared Paramount’s $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger on Friday, leaving the antitrust suit from California and 11 other state attorneys general as the only barrier to closing.
68 countries have now approved the deal, and CEO David Ellison said the company is ready to offer commitments and concessions to secure a settlement rather than wait for trial.
Paramount argued an eight-plus-month delay would add penalty fees, litigation costs and business disruption, increasing pressure on the states to negotiate.
The lawsuit has split Hollywood unions and unsettled California politicians, with some backing strict conditions, the Writers Guild seeking a full block, and Governor Gavin Newsom reportedly favoring a compromise.
A federal trial is scheduled for March 2, 2027, making the state case the final test for a merger Paramount says global regulators have already deemed pro-competitive.