Oregon’s attorney general has abandoned efforts to postpone the $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, withdrawing both a records request and a motion seeking a 60-day delay in the deal’s closing. This decision followed the state’s acknowledgment that Paramount had substantially complied with document requests related to the merger.
The state had launched an investigation into the merger since its announcement, focusing on Paramount’s lobbying activities, its involvement with the Department of Justice’s approval statement, and an internal initiative called “Project Warrior.” Oregon authorities initially argued that the company had failed to fully cooperate in providing relevant records, prompting a legal challenge in Multnomah County Court.
Paramount countered the state’s motion by emphasizing the absence of clear evidence that delaying the transaction would prevent irreparable harm, asserting that Oregon’s requests were unrelated to whether the merger violated state antitrust laws. The company highlighted that it, along with Warner Bros. Discovery, had collectively submitted more than two million documents during the review process. A spokesperson described the attorney general’s withdrawal as the correct outcome that avoids unnecessary hindrances to what they consider a lawful and competition-enhancing merger.
The merger has secured approvals from the U.S. Department of Justice and Warner Bros. shareholders, yet several state attorneys general continue to consider potential legal action to block the deal. The transaction’s closing remains contingent on a scheduled review by the European Commission, which will issue a final decision after mid-July, potentially referring the merger for an in-depth investigation. Additionally, the U.K. Secretary of Culture, Media and Sport has expressed serious concerns and indicated possible intervention, signaling further scrutiny from international regulators.