WASHINGTON-Sprint Corp. today confirmed it received a second request for information from the Justice Department on its proposed $36 billion acquisition of Nextel Communications Inc.
It is not unusual for the Justice Department to seek additional data from companies in major mergers.
“It would have been surprising if we didn’t get a second request,” said James Fisher, a spokesman for Sprint.
Earlier this month, applications were filed with the Federal Communications Commission to transfer Nextel’s wireless licenses to Sprint PCS. However, the FCC has yet to put the applications on public notice. Once that occurs, the public and other interested parties can review the license reassignment applications and file comments on whether the transaction should be approved.
Fisher said he expects the Sprint-Nextel deal to close in the third quarter.
On a related front, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) reportedly said today he plans to hold hearings on various telecom mergers.
