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The
companies said on Monday that the regulator would decide on the
pending deal by Dec. 8.
The extension follows EU regulators launching an extensive
investigation last month, warning that the deal could lead to
price hikes.
The companies said they continued "to work with regulatory
authorities in the European Union, the United States and
Canada."
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported on Oct. 7 that
the FTC was likely to delay its decision on the deal. (http://on.wsj.com/1RCfm7h)
The companies said on Aug. 28 this year that they had submitted
additional information to the FTC and had agreed to not close
the transaction for at least 45 days.
Staples first tried to buy Office Depot in 1996, but the deal
was blocked by U.S. regulators in 1997.
The deal has been approved by competition authorities in China,
Australia and New Zealand.
(Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by
Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Kirti Pandey)
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