Paramount Skydance announced it has no statutory impediment in the US to closing its proposed $77.9 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The media giant confirmed Friday it has complied with the US Justice Department's second-request review process under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. A 10-day waiting period expired Thursday, advancing the merger timeline as the companies navigate complex regulatory approvals.

This regulatory clearance comes after months of scrutiny over the massive media consolidation deal. Despite the waiting period expiration, Paramount emphasized that this does not imply regulators endorse the transaction. The Justice Department has previously sued to block mergers after similar waiting periods passed, maintaining that procedural clearance doesn't guarantee final approval.

The $77.9 billion deal represents one of the largest proposed mergers in recent media history, combining two major entertainment libraries and streaming services. Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Jen Rie and Chris Palmeri discussed the implications, noting that antitrust authorities remain vigilant against media consolidation despite this procedural milestone.