派拉蒙和华纳兄弟探索公司同意将其810亿美元合并交易的完成期限推迟至2027年6月1日或法院做出裁决后，以先到者为准 [1]。这一调整反映了该交易面临的法律阻碍——12个州正在法庭挑战该合并 [1]。
法官Araceli Martínez-Olguín已颁布临时禁制令，冻结交易数周 [1]。该法官认为这些州提出了"严肃问题"，并表示各州对合并可能"大幅减少竞争"提出了有力的论证 [1]。双方随后同意取消原定于8月3日的初步禁制令听证会，案件将进入大规模反垄断审判程序 [1]。
加州总检察长Rob Bonta在声明中阐述了诉讼州的立场，指出"当太少的公司在美国生活中央的市场拥有太多权力时，事情会变得更贵，会变得更糟" [1]。
派拉蒙董事长兼CEO David Ellison领导着这一交易 [1]。若合并未在9月30日前完成，双方每日需支付约700万美元的补偿费用 [1]。按债务计算，交易总估值近1110亿美元 [1]。值得注意的是，美国司法部在2024年6月已宣布不反对该交易 [1]。
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed to postpone the closing of their $81 billion merger until June 1, 2027, or following a court ruling on the matter, whichever comes first. [1] The delay comes as a judge considers whether to block the combination, which 12 states have challenged on antitrust grounds. [1]
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín has already issued a temporary restraining order freezing the deal for several weeks, finding that the states had raised "serious questions" and presented a "strong case" that the merger could "substantially reduce competition." [1] The two companies agreed to cancel a preliminary injunction hearing initially scheduled for August 3, and the case will now proceed to full antitrust litigation. [1]
The total transaction value, including debt, is estimated at nearly $111 billion. [1] If the deal does not close by September 30, the companies will owe each other a daily ticking fee of approximately $7 million. [1] The U.S. Department of Justice announced in June 2024 that it would not oppose the transaction. [1]
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated: "When too few companies have too much power in markets central to American life, things get more expensive and they get worse." [1] Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison is leading the company through the deal process. [1]