German utility EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg AG (EBK.XE) Thursday said it has requested a further extension of the Federal Cartel Office's investigation into the company's planned purchase of a 26% stake in regional utility EWE AG.
EnBW in a written statement said it has requested the regulator's decision be delayed until June 15, adding that the extension of the probe is necessary to prepare and evaluate possible concessions that would secure antitrust approval for the deal.
Last December, the cartel office said it had reservations about EnBW's plans to buy the stake in EWE. At the time, the regulator said it believed the partnership would result in the companies' increased dominance in eastern German gas markets.
As a result the decision, which was originally due Jan. 8, was delayed until Mar. 9.
EnBW said it was confident that "all relevant issues could be solved in cooperation with the cartel office."