European antitrust regulators approve Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, removing one major regulatory hurdle toward closing the proposed mega-deal. Multiple outlets report that the European Commission gives clearance for the merger subject to conditions related to Paramount’s film distribution activities in Europe. In particular, Paramount has agreed to unwind its film distribution joint venture with Universal Pictures within a defined period after closing. Reporting notes that the required exit from the Universal venture is tied to a 13-month timeframe from the date of closing.
While the European approval moves the transaction forward, other legal and regulatory challenges remain outside Europe. Several accounts say the merger still faces uncertainty in the United States, where U.S. antitrust scrutiny continues and state attorneys general are challenging the deal. In addition, Euronews reports that a federal judge in California orders the companies to pause the merger temporarily.
Overall, the EU’s conditional clearance marks progress on the transaction, but completion still depends on developments in the U.S. legal process and any remaining approvals.
