NTT gets all clear for $5.5bn US acquisition

NEWS Japanese telco NTT DoCoMo has been given the green light by the FBI to proceed with its $5.5bn acquisition of US web-hosting firm Verio. Although details have not been released, US officials say NTT and the FBI have reached an agreement over security issues that had threatened a successful takeover. NTT, which already owns 10 per cent of Verio, reached an agreement with the US group in May to buy the outstanding 90 per cent. But the US government blocked the deal because of concerns that NTT's ownership of Verio would prevent the FBI from maintaining surveillance over Verios' telecommunications infrastructure.