BRUSSELS (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — EU antitrust regulators are reportedly poised to unconditionally affix a stamp of approval to the Sony-BMG merger, according to a report in the Financial Times.
Although regulators have until October 10th to rule om the deal, well-placed sources have stated that there haven't been any indications of forthcoming objections from the commission.
"Realistically, there couldn't be any time for a statement of objections now," A lawyer, familiar with the case told the Financial Times "Everybody is definitely assuming that (the deal) will get cleared and get cleared without conditions."
The merger had been approved by the Antitrust Commission in July 2004 but a court ruled that regulators initial decision was "flawed" and required that they re-open the matter. Since then, there has been strident opposition to the deal from a number of sources, most importantly Indie label association Impala, who described the merger as "catastrophic and scandalous." Impala's legal challenge was the original impetus behind the court's decision to reopen the matter. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
