Oregon Attorney General Withdraws Delay Request in Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Case

The Oregon attorney general’s office has withdrawn its motion to postpone the closing of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, according to a filing submitted Friday in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, Oregon. The $111 billion transaction is now on track to close as early as July 22, though multiple states, including Oregon and California, continue antitrust investigations that could still lead to legal challenges or injunctions.

Attorney General Dan Rayfield had previously petitioned the court to extend the merger deadline by 60 days, citing delays in obtaining critical records from Paramount Skydance. His office had sought information regarding lobbying activities tied to the White House and Department of Justice, alleging potential misconduct in the agency’s June approval of the deal. The court had scheduled a hearing for Monday, but the motion’s withdrawal renders the proceeding unnecessary. The state has also dropped its request for documents related to “Project Warrior,” the internal initiative aimed at securing regulatory approval.

Paramount had contended the requested records were irrelevant to the antitrust review. A company spokesperson praised the decision, stating, “It was the right decision and avoids an unwarranted effort to delay a lawful, pro-competitive merger.” The Oregon attorney general’s office did not immediately provide comment.

The merger has already secured approvals from regulatory bodies in Australia, Canada, and China. Paramount emphasized that global antitrust authorities have either approved the deal or found it compliant with competition laws, asserting that the transaction will enhance competition against dominant streaming platforms, expand consumer options, and boost investments in content creation and theatrical distribution.

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