Paramount-Warner merger temporarily blocked by US judge
( July 20, 2026, 17:38 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: US Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted a motion for a temporary restraining order by a coalition of US states opposed to Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, halting the companies from closing their deal and combining. "Because the Plaintiff States raise serious questions on the merits of their Clayton Act claim and because the balance of equities and public interest tip sharply in favor of the Plaintiff States, the Court ultimately finds the public interest favors their requested TRO to stay the merger in the interim," the order said. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.See document attached....
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