/ Source: The Associated Press
German sportswear maker Adidas-Salomon AG said Tuesday that its planned $3.8 billion takeover of Reebok International Ltd. has cleared the final U.S. regulatory hurdle, and the deal is expected to be completed next year.
The deadline for U.S. antitrust authorities to raise any objections to the takeover has expired, Adidas-Salomon said.
"No further antitrust checks are needed in the United States," the company said in a statement.
Adidas-Salomon announced in August that it planned to buy Reebok to double its U.S. business and narrow the gap held by world market leader Nike Inc. The German company plans to complete the takeover in the first half of 2006.