AT & T and Time Warner: the US government acts against the merger



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More than four weeks ago, a federal judge approved the mega-fusion of AT & T and Time Warner – against the concerns of the US government. The dispute over the purchase of CNN Time Warner's mother by the AT & T telecommunications group enters a new round: the US Department of Justice has appealed the verdict on the two announced merger companies. He will sue Judge Richard Leon's decision in mid-June, the ministry said in a statement of one sentence.

Leon had the acquisition of the $ 85 billion Time Warner media group by telecommunications giant AT & T without major approved editions. The merger took place four weeks ago

AT & T wanted to pay in cash and own shares. Thus, the acquisition has become one of the most important in the entertainment and media industry in the United States.

The merger, for which AT & T has fought for nearly two years, is expected to impact the TV program of millions of Americans. Antitrust lawyers from the Justice Ministry had previously pleaded against Leon's appeal against the merger. They said the merger would weaken competition and lead to higher prices for customers. The judge, however, said in June that the evidence was too "thin for this court to be trusted."

The verdict allowed AT & T, the owner of CNN, pay TV broadcaster HBO (Game of Thrones) and the famous Warner Bros. movie studio. Meanwhile, the telecommunications giant provides Internet access to million users in the United States

AT & T called the merger at a time when more and more consumers are watching videos on smartphones and tablets.

AT & T surprised by the l & # 39; Appeal

Originally, the Department of Justice had reported after the conviction that he had no more objections to the merger.Now, the authority wants to draw before the next higher instance, the Federal District Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia.

AT & T responded with the announcement to defend the verdict in the appeal. Legal Counsel David McAtee has stated that the company had been surprised by the decision of the Department of Justice in this s circumstances – Leon's June ruling in favor of the merger could not have been clearer or better justified.

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