Y. David Scharf Comments on Regulators Possible Approval of Sprint, T-Mobile Merger

June 6, 2019 – Morrison Cohen Partner Y. David Scharf was quoted in the article “FCC and DOJ May Agree on Sprint, T-Mobile Merger”, that appeared on May 24, 2019 in the New York Post.  Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, announced that he supported the controversial $26 billion merger T-Mobile and Sprint after speaking with Makan Delrahim, the head of the antitrust division at the Department of Justice, signaling that Delrahim may overrule a recommendation from the DOJ's staff to block the deal.  Both the FCC and the DOJ must approve the merger.  David's comments also appeared in the August 23, 2019 issue of Easton Caller.  

“I do think it signals that the merger is going to happen,” said David Scharf, vice chairman at New York law firm Morrison Cohen.

If Pai and Delrahim did speak before Pai's announcement, “That information confirms that the DOJ feels there is a negotiable transaction,” Scharf said.

Critics have accused Delrahim of acting on the wishes of the Oval Office, citing as an example the DOJ's failed lawsuit to stop the AT&T-Time Warner merger. Scharf notes that the White House seems pleased with the concessions T-Mobile has offered to gain FCC approval of the merger.