Nokia’s €15.6 billion acquisition of rival Alcatel-Lucent inched forward this week after getting the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ).
The competition watchdog has granted early termination of the antitrust waiting period, allowing the transaction to proceed.
"The parties continue to make good progress with the regulatory approval processes in the remaining relevant jurisdictions, with the parties having already obtained antitrust clearances in Brazil and Serbia," said Nokia, in a statement on Wednesday.
Nokia agreed to acquire Al catel-Lucent in April. Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri will lead the combined company, while Alcatel-Lucent CEO Michel Combes will leave at an as yet unspecified date.
The deal still requires approval from China, the European Commission, and four other jurisdictions before it can proceed.
It also requires Nokia shareholders to give it the thumbs up, and for at least 50% of Alcatel-Lucent’s shares to be tendered.
Nokia reiterated it expects to complete the purchase in the first half of 2016, adding that "early termination of the U.S. antitrust waiting period takes us one important step closer to the closing of the pending transaction."
