Five states OK CenturyTel-Embarq deal

The merger of Louisiana-based CenturyTel and Kansas-based Embarq has been approved by regulatory commissions in Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, Minnesota and Ohio. The deal is due for review by Louisiana regulators within days, and several other states' regulators should follow. Fifteen of the 33 states in which the companies operate require that it be approved by their utility commissions. The deal also must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

The companies said the merger remains on track to close in the second quarter. It already has been approved by both CenturyTel and Embarq shareholders, and by the Federal Trade Commission.

For more:
- Here's the CenturyTel press release [1]

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CenturyTel's fourth quarter profit dipped [2]
CenturyTel announced plans to buy Embarq last fall [3]