BT Welcomes CMA's Provisional Approval Of GBP 12.5 Bln EE Acquisition

(RTTNews) - Communications services provider BT Group Plc (BT_A.L, BT) Wednesday said it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority's or CMA decision to provisionally approve its 12.5 billion pounds acquisition of EE, unconditionally without remedies.

The company will continue to engage with the Authority through the remainder of its merger enquiry.

The CMA said it has provisionally decided that the acquisition is not expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition or SLC in any market in the UK. These include the supply of retail mobile, wholesale mobile, mobile backhaul, wholesale broadband and retail fixed broadband services.

BT Chief Executive Gavin Patterson said, "We're pleased that the CMA has provisionally approved BT's acquisition of EE. The combined BT and EE will be good for the UK, providing investment and ensuring consumers and businesses can benefit from further innovation in a highly competitive market."

It was in February that the UK-based fixed-line operator finalized a 12.5 billion pounds deal to acquire EE, Britain's largest mobile network, from Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY.PK) and Orange.