Deals
AT&T’s Victory Is a Big Setback for Merger Enforcement
- Judge’s ruling expected to spur merger wave across industries
- Comcast said poised to top Disney bid for Fox assets Wednesday
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AT&T Inc.’s sweeping court victory allowing its takeover of Time Warner Inc. delivers a sharp setback to the Justice Department’s new approach to policing mergers under President Donald Trump and promises to spark a merger wave across industries.
The federal judge’s decision raises the bar for the government’s ability to challenge deals between companies that don’t compete directly. That opens a pathway for firms contemplating such deals, especially in media where distributors are racing to acquire content companies.