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The U.S. Dept. of Justice is likely to file a lawsuit to challenge JetBlue’s (NASDAQ:JBLU) planned $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit Airlines (NYSE:SAVE).
The antitrust regulator may file the suit as soon as next month, though a review is still ongoing and no final decision has been made, according to a Politico report, which cited people familiar. In recent weeks the DOJ’s antitrust division has been to looking to expand the team reviewing the deal as it potentially gears up to file a suit soon.
The report comes after Spirit Airlines (SAVE) CEO Ted Christie said on Tuesday he expects to hear from the DOJ on the planned acquisition of low-cost carrier in the next 30 days. Christie said Spirit (SAVE) is waiting to see if the DOJ files a lawsuit to block the deal or allows it to proceed, he commented during the airliner’s Q4 earnings conference call.
Dealreporter last Monday said that the DOJ has been sending out depositions as it prepares for a possible lawsuit to block JetBlue’s (JBLU) planned purchase of Spirit (SAVE).
JetBlue (JBLU) agreed to a $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit (SAVE) in late July after a long battle for the low-cost airline from rival Frontier (ULCC).
