CEO: AT&T Expects To Make Concessions For T-Mobile Deal -FT

AT&T Inc.'s (T) chief executive said Monday that his company expects to have to make concessions to win U.S. government approval for its planned $39 billion purchase of Deutsche Telekom AG's (DTE.XE) T-Mobile USA unit, the Financial Times reported online.

CEO Randall Stephenson, recalling past AT&T deals, told the newspaper: "I cannot remember a single transaction, whether it be large or small, where we were not asked, and agreed to, some level of concessions. I am not anticipating there will be no concessions required here."

But he expressed confidence that AT&T will secure clearance from antitrust and other regulators for the cash-and-stock acquisition of T-Mobile USA. If the deal is approved, AT&T will leapfrog Verizon Wireless to become the leading U.S. mobile operator, with an estimated 44% market share by revenue.

AT&T announced earlier Monday that it will pay $25 billion in cash and the rest in stock, with Deutsche Telekom to get an 8% stake in the U.S. company and a seat on its board.

Full story at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fe36a730-53ef-11e0-8bd7-00144feab49a,s01=1.html#axzz1HF8gzm8M

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