AT&T-Time Warner Review Slows After Antitrust Chief Joins In
- DOJ’s Delrahim is said to be sorting out competitive remedy
- Optimistic predictions for October close have come and gone
AT&T Inc.’s late-stage talks with U.S. officials over the company’s $85.4 billion takeover of Time Warner Inc. are dragging on as the Justice Department’s new antitrust chief takes a hands-on role in the review, according to people familiar with the matter.
Makan Delrahim, the head of the antitrust division, is working to resolve concerns that combining AT&T’s vast telecom network with Time Warner’s movies and TV shows could hurt competition, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations aren’t public. Delrahim joined the process late because he was confirmed by the Senate in September. He has been meeting with parties involved to remedy the competitive issues but would file a lawsuit to block the deal if antitrust concerns can’t be solved.