Report: Deutsche Telekom-Tele2 deal to get EU approval

The EU is set to green-light Deutsche Telekom’s acquisition of Tele2 in the Netherlands, according to a Reuters report.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters said the deal is due to get unconditional anti-trust approval, following a European Commission investigation into the deal.

In its preliminary analysis the EC raised competition concerns about the effect of the merger on the mobile retail market, notably in the residential segment.

However, Deutsche Telekom argued that the combination of the number three and number four operators in the Dutch market would account for only 25% of the mobile market, making it the number three player.

Deutsche Telekom-owned T-Mobile Netherlands agreed to acquire Tele2 NL last December in exchange for €190 million cash and a stake of 25% in the combined company.