Several US states are preparing to file a lawsuit against Paramount Global’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.
Discovery, according to a report by Handelsblatt.
The legal challenge is expected to be lodged as early as next week, introducing a new layer of regulatory risk to the deal just as it cleared federal hurdles.
The potential state-level opposition marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny surrounding the merger.
While the United States Department of Justice has already granted final approval for the transaction, clearing the last major domestic regulatory hurdle, state attorneys general often pursue separate antitrust actions based on local consumer protection concerns.
This dual-track regulatory environment means that federal clearance does not guarantee immunity from state-level litigation.