Paramount delays Warner deal to June 2027 as states press suit
What’s new: the delay could add about $1.7 billion in fees, while a collapse would trigger a $7 billion breakup payment.
Paramount agreed to postpone closing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery until a court rules on a multistate antitrust challenge or until June 1, 2027, extending a deal the company had aimed to finish by late September. The pause follows a temporary restraining order from U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín after 12 states led by California sued to block the tie-up. Under the revised terms, Paramount will pay Warner shareholders an extra 25 cents a share per quarter starting Sept. 30, a ticking fee worth roughly $650 million every 90 days. A delay into June 2027 could raise the price by about $1.7 billion. If the deal fails, Paramount would owe Warner a $7 billion breakup fee.