Paramount reaches settlement with 12 states, paving the way for $110 billion acquisition of WBD

According to reports, Paramount Global reached a settlement on Monday with California and 11 other U.S. states, which had previously filed lawsuits to block the company's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.US). This move paves the way for one of the largest media mergers in history. The California Attorney General announced at a press conference that the settlement agreement includes bringing more film production back to the United States—adding at least $300 million per year for domestic production—and gradually increasing the annual number of film releases after the deal is closed. The agreement also stipulates that the company will produce 30 movies annually in the first two years, and 32 movies annually for the following three years. Among these, there will be at least four independent films each year, and at least 20% of the movies must be blockbusters.