Dell and EMC reach 'key milestone' in merger process

US antitrust regulator gives the acquisition the green light

Dell's planned acquisition of EMC has been given the go-ahead by a US antitrust body, marking a "key regulatory milestone", according to Michael Dell.

At 11:59pm on Monday night (22 February), the so-called waiting period imposed by the US Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired.

The law requires large companies to provide information on certain big mergers and acquisitions to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice before they occur.

Now that the waiting period has expired - without any intervention taking place - the deal can take a step closer to completion, which is due any time between May and October this year.

"We are delighted that, with this key regulatory milestone now complete, we have taken another step on our path to becoming a combined company," said Dell CEO Michael Dell. "Our teams are engaged in integration planning and all transaction-related work streams are on track."

Dell himself and other senior company execs have recently quashed rumours circulating in the press that the merger is not on track to close due to financial constraints.