FRANKFURT, Germany-Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and T-Mobile USA Inc. parent Deutsche Telekom AG are apparently close to agreeing to the size and stake of a proposed merger between the two companies and could begin merger proceedings as early as next month, according to a story in the Financial Times, citing sources close to the negotiations.
The story noted the only sticking points remaining are DT’s attempts to seek greater control over the merged entity and recent hints from DT that it may look instead to keep its U.S. operations and chose an initial public offering of its T-Mobile wireless unit as a way to reduce its considerable debt load.
If Cingular and T-Mobile USA merged, the combined operator would serve more than 30 million customers and rival Verizon Wireless Inc. as the nation’s largest wireless carrier.
