Oregon AG Drops Bid to Delay Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

Key Points:

• The Oregon attorney general’s office has withdrawn its motion to delay the closing of the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, potentially allowing the deal to close as soon as July 22.
• Oregon and several other states, including California, are still investigating whether the merger violates antitrust laws and may seek an injunction before the closing date.
• Oregon AG Dan Rayfield had requested a 60-day extension to investigate due to Paramount Skydance's lack of responsiveness to records requests, particularly regarding lobbying efforts with the White House and DOJ.
• Paramount argues the requested records are irrelevant to antitrust concerns and has emphasized that global regulators, including those in Australia, Canada, and China, have approved the merger.
• The Oregon AG's office is considering its next steps after withdrawing the motion, criticizing Paramount for not complying with investigative demands and indicating continued scrutiny of the merger.