EU Authorities Extend Probe into GE's Acquisition of Alstom

By Tom Fairless 

BRUSSELS--European Union authorities have extended by a month their investigation into General Electric Co.'s $17 billion acquisition of France-based Alstom SA's energy businesses, amid a disagreement over the geographical scope of a key market.

The delay highlights the uncertainty around GE's biggest deal to date, a rare example of a large French company being acquired by a U.S. rival.

In a statement posted online, the European Commission, the bloc's top antitrust authority, said that it had extended the deadline for its investigation by 20 working days, to August 6. GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt told investors in December that the company was aiming to close the Alstom deal by July 1.

EU regulators opened the in-depth investigation three weeks ago to assess whether the proposed deal could lead to higher prices for large gas turbines.

Write to Tom Fairless at [e-mail]

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