Amazon is pressuring the Federal Trade Commission to make a decision on its proposed A$11.46 billion takeover of legendary Hollywood studio MGM.
Amazon certified to the FTC it had provided all requested information, which triggered a March 15 deadline for the regulator to act.
According to the Wall Street Journal, such a short timeframe “could prove difficult” for the FTC to take action, meaning the deal would be allowed to go ahead. The FTC can still investigate acquisitions after they close.
Likewise, the European Commission must also decide by March 15, although this deadline can be extended. If the EU decides to take a closer look at the acquisition, it will buy the FTC more time.
The FTC Chair Lina Khan famously wrote a 2017 law-review article titled “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox” which took aim at large tech deals such as this.
Amazon used this last June to filed a request that Khan recuse herself from any antitrust matter involving Amazon.
