Discovery-WarnerMedia deal clears U.S. antitrust review
[1/2] The Discovery, Inc. logo is seen on a display in the FAO Schwarz toy store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 24, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Feb 9 (Reuters) - Media company Discovery Inc's (DISCA.O) plan to acquire venerable film and TV studio WarnerMedia has passed the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust review, clearing another hurdle toward closing, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday.
The $43 billion deal, which was announced last May, received unconditional antitrust clearance from the European Commission in December. WarnerMedia parent AT&T Corp (T.N) has also received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service approving the merger's tax-free status, another key requirement for the closing.
The deal now awaits approval by Discovery's shareholders. It already has the support of investors John Malone and the Newhouse family.
AT&T announced on Feb. 1 that it would spin off WarnerMedia to its shareholders, who will own 71% of the new Warner Bros. Discovery company. The deal unwinds AT&T's $85 billion purchase of Time Warner.
(This story corrects million to billion in paragraph 2)
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