Southwest Airlines and AirTran Holdings each receive antitrust second request
09-Nov-2010 Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) announced today that each received a request yesterday for additional information from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with Southwest's previously announced proposed acquisition of AirTran.
This action, often referred to as a "second request," is a common part of the regulatory approval process under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Both parties are in the process of gathering information to respond to the second request and will continue to work cooperatively with the DOJ as it reviews the transaction. Completion of the transaction remains subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of DOJ and any other necessary clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions. While a definitive closing date cannot yet be determined, Southwest and AirTran maintain their expectation that the transaction will close in the first half of 2011.