FCC Funding Application Notes Paramount Will Be 49.5% Foreign-Owned Post-Merger
5 hours ago
- #regulatory-approval
- #media-merger
- #foreign-investment
- Paramount will be 49.5% owned by non-U.S. investors after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Middle East investment funds, led by Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, will hold a 38.5% stake, investing $24 billion for greater capital access.
- Foreign investors are described as passive with no voting control, but their involvement raises sensitivity due to CBS News and CNN being under the merged entity.
- The $110 billion merger is expected to close by September, pending regulatory approval, with potential legal challenges from state attorneys general.
- Netflix highlighted foreign ownership concerns during bidding, and the FCC filing is noted as routine, not affecting regulatory review.