Warner Bros Discovery has announced that shareholders will vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance on April 23, marking a key step towards completing one of the biggest deals in the media sector.
Approval from investors would advance the merger, though the transaction is expected to face close scrutiny from regulators in the United States and Europe over potential impacts on competition and pricing.
Paramount has signalled confidence in the deal’s completion timeline, offering Warner Bros shareholders a 25-cent-per-share quarterly “ticking-fee” starting in October if the merger is not finalised.
The deal forms part of a broader wave of consolidation across the global media industry and is set to strengthen the influence of Skydance CEO David Ellison, who previously led the $8.4 billion acquisition of Paramount.
Analysts have suggested the merger could face a smoother regulatory path, partly due to the ties between Larry Ellison and US President Donald Trump.
However, US antitrust authorities have pushed back against that assumption. Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s antitrust division, Omeed Assefi, made clear the process will not be accelerated.
The deal will “absolutely not” receive fast-track approval due to political considerations, Assefi told Reuters.
If approved, the merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining major film, television and streaming assets under a single corporate structure.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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