FTC would have OK'd EA-Take Two merger
The federal government would not have stood in the way of an Electronic Arts-Take Two merger, according to documents published to the Federal Trade Commission Web site.
The FTC said it had conducted an investigation of a merger of the companies, but said no further action was required, and closed the investigation, Reuters reported Wednesday.
But the FTC's efforts appear to be moot at this point. After months of pursuing Take Two, EA allowed its hostile bid to expire Monday at midnight.
The video game publishing powerhouse's original $2 billion takeover offer was made in February, and Take Two declined the overture several times.
Take Two is coming off the most successful video game release ever, with Grand Theft Auto IV sales reaching $310 million on the first day alone.
Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica. 
