Courtesy of Benzinga.
MetroPCS Communications (NYSE: PCS) today announced that, on November 19, 2012, MetroPCS received a request for additional information (the “Second Request”) from the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) in connection with MetroPCS’ proposed transaction with T-Mobile USA, Inc. (“T-Mobile”) pursuant to the business combination agreement, dated October 3, 2012, by and among Deutsche Telekom AG, an Aktiengesellschaft organized in Germany (“Deutsche Telekom”), T-Mobile Global Zwischenholding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (“Global”), T-Mobile Global Holding GmbH, a Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung organized in Germany and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Global (“Holding”), T-Mobile, a Delaware corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding, and MetroPCS. The Second Request was issued pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (“HSR Act”).
The effect of the Second Request is to extend the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after MetroPCS and T-Mobile have substantially complied with the Second Request, unless that period is extended voluntarily by the parties or terminated sooner by the DOJ.
MetroPCS intends to cooperate fully with the DOJ to obtain approval of the transaction as soon as possible and remains confident that the DOJ will find that the transaction is both pro-competitive and pro-consumer. Completion of the transaction is subject to MetroPCS shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. MetroPCS continues to expect the transaction will close in the first half of 2013.
