Paramount, Warner Bros deal under EU subsidy scrutiny, decision due July 14


FILE PHOTO: The Paramount water tower is shown on the Paramount studio lot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 13, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) - Paramount Skydance ⁠Corp's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros ‌Discovery, backed by Gulf sovereign wealth funds, is under European Union subsidy scrutiny, according to ​a European Commission filing.

The ⁠U.S. entertainment giant ⁠sought EU approval under its Foreign Subsidies ⁠Regulation, ‌which targets unfair foreign state aid, on Tuesday.

The Commission, which ⁠acts as the EU competition enforcer, ​will ‌decide by July 14 whether to ⁠clear the ​deal or open a full-scale 90 working day investigation.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), ⁠Abu Dhabi-based L'imad Holding ​Company, and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) are backing the deal, which is also being reviewed ⁠under EU merger rules.

The subsidy review is expected to be easier than the merger one where the companies ​will likely have to ⁠offer concessions such as divesting a ​children's channel to address ‌EU competition concerns, sources ​have previously told Reuters.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

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