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US: DOJ may sue to block AT&T/Time Warner deal

 |  November 2, 2017

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is gearing up for a potential lawsuit to block AT&T’s planned acquisition of Time Warner if the regulator and the companies cannot reach an agreement.

The Journal’s sources say that the companies and the DOJ are in settlement talks, but are still far from reaching an agreement.

AT&T responded to the news calmly stating, “When the DOJ reviews any transaction, it is common and expected for both sides to prepare for all possible scenarios. For over 40 years, vertical mergers like this one have always been approved because they benefit consumers without removing any competitors from the market. While we won’t comment on our discussions with DOJ, we see no reason in the law or the facts why this transaction should be an exception.”

Executives from AT&T stated that the deal is still expected to close by the end of the year.

Full Content: Wall Street Journal

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