Story
Oregon Withdraws Motion to Delay $110 Billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
The Oregon attorney general’s office has withdrawn a court motion that sought to delay Paramount's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. The state agency said it was reassessing its options after alleging Paramount refused to cooperate with its investigation.
State Alleges Non-Compliance
In a statement to Reuters, the Oregon Department of Justice accused Paramount of failing to comply with an investigative demand for records. "Paramount made it clear that they weren’t going to comply... and that they think they’re above the law," the department stated. "We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps."
The motion, filed in a Multnomah County court, had asked to delay the transaction by 60 days. Oregon was seeking documents related to Paramount's internal efforts to secure regulatory approval, code-named "Project Warrior," as well as records concerning lobbying efforts aimed at the Trump administration.
AdDeal's Future and Market Context
A Paramount spokesperson told Reuters the company was "pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion," describing the proposed merger as "lawful" and "pro-competitive." Despite Oregon's withdrawal, the transaction is not clear of regulatory hurdles.
The deal, which would combine two of Hollywood's four major studios, continues to face significant opposition. Industry groups representing actors and writers have voiced concerns about potential job losses and reduced competition. According to Reuters, other U.S. states are also scrutinizing the acquisition and could file a lawsuit to block it as soon as next week.