EchoStar, DirecTV Tussle

摘要

EchoStar's lawyers shouldn't count on taking life easy this holiday season. Company attorneys are likely to need the next few weeks preparing for a three-front legal battle over EchoStar's bid for DirecTV Two struggles with the Justice Department and the FCC are in their opening stages, and the third is likely to begin in early January after DirecTV parent General Motors/Hughes announced last week that it will walk away from the deal―and demand a $600 million breakup fee―rather than continue fighting the government. EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen also would be bound to honor a $2.7 billion acquisition of Hughes's 81% stake in ailing international satellite operator PanAmSat.