Nynex and Bell Atlantic file suit to enjoin AT&T-McCaw merger

NEW YORK -- August 8, 1994 -- NYNEX and Bell Atlantic this morning filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for eastern New York in Brooklyn that seeks to enjoin the AT&T-McCaw merger from proceeding toward conclusion on antitrust grounds.

In response to requests for comments from the news media, AT&T issued the following statement:

"We prefer not to comment in detail on pending litigation. We will respond in full in court. However, from our reading so far of the court papers, the suit is without merit and we will oppose it vigorously.

"This action by NYNEX and Bell Atlantic is, in effect, a try at double end-run: It's an end-run around the U.S. Department of Justice, which as the nation's expert antitrust enforcement agency concluded that the AT&T-McCaw merger would benefit customers and competition in the cellular industry; the Justice Department also concluded there was no basis for the injunction that NYNEX and Bell Atlantic seek. And it's an attempt to circumvent the federal district court in Washington, D.C., where all of the antitrust implications of the merger are already being considered.

"We remain confident that the merger will conclude on schedule."

AT&T responds to order moving McCaw challenge to Brooklyn court

WASHINGTON -- August 24, 1994 -- U.S. District Court Judge Harold Greene today ordered a suit against AT&T by Nynex and Bell Atlantic to be returned to U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, N.Y. The Bell companies filed suit in an attempt to block the proposed merger of AT&T and McCaw Cellular Communications. AT&T issued the following statement after the ruling:

"As we've said before, we believe the antitrust case brought by Nynex and Bell Atlantic has no merit; nor does their request for a preliminary injunction. While AT&T favored moving the case to federal court in Washington for efficiency reasons, the decision to move it to Brooklyn doesn't alter the basic issues. The Justice Department has already concluded the AT&T-McCaw merger would benefit customers and competition in the cellular industry and also concluded there was no basis for the injunction these companies seek.

"We're certainly willing to have this case heard in any federal court because we're confident we can win on the merits. We also remain confident the merger will conclude on schedule."