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Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LIE) met with senior Justice Department leadership last Thursday to try to persuade regulators not to file an antitrust lawsuit that could lead to a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
administration staff Lawyers met with Justice Department officials, including Justice Department antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter, according to a lawyer political report On Monday, sources quoted people familiar with the matter as saying.
While meetings with Kanter and company lawyers are typically the final stage before the Justice Department files lawsuits, regulators are still deciding what to do, and Kanter and Justice Department officials are expected to meet with Live Nation (LYV) again, according to reports.
It was reported a month ago that the Justice Department was preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against concert organizers as soon as this month. Several state attorneys general are also involved in the investigation and may decide to join the Justice Department’s lawsuit, Bloomberg reported at the time.
“We look forward to our upcoming meetings with division leadership and remain hopeful that any remaining disputes can be resolved amicably,” Live Nation Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call earlier this month. “But if No, we are prepared to defend ourselves in court.”
Live Nation (LYV) Stock Slightly up 0.4% Tuesday.
