Paramount says US antitrust waiting period on Warner Bros bid has expired

Core Viewpoint - Paramount's $108.4 billion all-cash bid for Warner Bros Discovery has passed the U.S. antitrust waiting period, indicating no immediate legal barriers to the acquisition [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The U.S. antitrust waiting period expired on February 19, allowing Paramount to proceed with its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery [1] - Despite the expiration of the waiting period, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) can still investigate the deal and potentially block it [1] - Paramount does not have a definitive agreement with Warner Bros, which is currently in negotiations with Netflix for a deal valued at $82.7 billion, or $27.75 per share [1] Group 2: Regulatory Scrutiny - The DOJ's review process remains ongoing, and it can request additional information or take legal action to prevent the transaction from closing [1] - The Netflix deal for Warner Bros Discovery will also undergo scrutiny from U.S. and European competition authorities to assess its impact on market competition and consumer choice [1]