Paramount Skydance has asked a US federal judge to require 12 states and the Writers Guild of America to post a bond of about $1.88 billion in the lawsuit seeking to block its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Avisen Danmark reports that Paramount wants the plaintiffs to guarantee the company’s potential losses while the case runs. The motion was filed on August 17, 2026, in the case before the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Reuters reports that Paramount faces a fee of about $7 million per day if the merger does not close by September 30, 2026. The bond would let the company recover those losses if the court eventually clears the deal.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the filing targets both the 12 states and the Writers Guild of America. Paramount argues that those who sued should bear financial responsibility for damages caused by the litigation. The money would go to the company if it prevails.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the so called ticking fees to Warner shareholders amount to roughly $650 million per quarter. Paramount’s motion cites a bond provision under the Clayton Antitrust Act. The judge is set to rule on the request at a hearing on Wednesday.
CNN reports that Paramount calculates about $1.3 billion in unrecoverable ticking fees by the time the antitrust trial concludes and final briefs are filed. The company describes the situation as a textbook case for requiring a bond.
States reject the demand
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the request desperation, per CNN, which also reports that the states are dismissing the demand. Moneycontrol notes that Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín declined to order a bond in July 2026. She pointed to the states enforcing important public interests.
The New York Times reported in July 2026 that the ticking consideration begins on October 1, 2026, at roughly $650 million for every 90 days of delay. Liabilities could reach $7 billion if the deal is not consummated by June 2027. The Los Angeles Times reports that Paramount wants the bond in place before the fees start accruing.
The lawsuit by the 12 states, filed in July 2026, seeks to block the merger on antitrust grounds. According to the New York Times, the states argue the deal would harm competition in film and television distribution and raise prices. Deadline reports that a trial date has been set for March 2027.
