FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with Sprint logo are seen in front of a screen projection of T-mobile logo, in this picture illustration taken April 30, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
(Reuters) – Negotiations to complete the merger of T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS.O) and Sprint Corp (S.N) are dragging on as the parties haggle over ownership restrictions and other conditions for Dish Network Corp (DISH.O) once it gets assets from the wireless companies, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
Discussions are continuing, and all sides remain optimistic they can find common ground on the ownership question and other issues to complete T-Mobile’s acquisition of smaller rival, the newspaper report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Due to the delay in talks, T-Mobile and Sprint are planning to extend their merger agreement past its July 29 deadline, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. It would be the second time for the companies to postpone the deadline.
T-Mobile and Sprint have agreed to a series of concessions – including the sale of Boost – in order to gain regulatory approval for the $26.5 billion merger, but will still need a green light from the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust chief.
The companies did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comments.
Reporting by Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru; editing by Maju Samuel and G Crosse
