AT&T has once again extended the deadline for completion of its planned takeover of DirecTV to give more time for the regulatory green light, but the U.S. telco says it expects to close the deal in the near future.
In an SEC filing on Monday, AT&T said it has agreed with DirecTV to push back the completion date "for a short period of time to facilitate obtaining final regulatory approval required to close the merger."
The filing marks the second extension of the deadline.
The US$48.5 billion deal, agreed just over a year ago, had been due to close by 18 May, but AT&T issued a similar deadline extension announcement a few days ahead of time. It has not shared a new target completion date.
"AT&T expects that the merger will be consummated shortly," it said on Monday.
The acquisition of satellite TV provider DirecTV will give AT&T a stronger presence in the TV and video space in the U.S. The firm also brings with it a growing Latin American business, which includes an investment in Sky in Mexico, where AT&T last week announced plans to spend $3 billion over three and a half years to extend mobile broadband coverage.
