AQUA - Evoqua Water/Xylem deal spread widens amid report about China concerns

2023-05-05 14:45:22 ET

The deal spread in Xylem's ( NYSE: XYL ) planned purchase of Evoqua Water ( NYSE: AQUA ) widened after a report that a Chinese antitrust scholar has raised some issues with the transaction. The spread widened $0.89 from $0.45 on Thursday.

Liu Xu, a university professor in China who has flagged antitrust issues with other transactions, has some concerns about the combination, according to a Dealreporter item on Friday, which cited an interview with the scholar.

Liu told the new service that he hasn't received any feedback from China's antitrust regulator since his complaint. The parties filed with the State Administration for Market Regulation under simplified procedure on April 24 and the public comment period expire on Wednesday.

News of Liu's issues with the deal aren't new on Friday and had been disclosed at some recently in a web posting , according to traders.

Xylem ( XYL ) on Thursday in its Q1 earnings release reiterated that the Evoqua ( AQUA ) deal i s expected to close by mid year.

More on Evoqua/Xylem

• What To Make Of Xylem's Evoqua Acquisition
• Xylem shares sink after acquisition seen as 'textbook instance of overpaying'
• Xylem: Strong Growth Potential

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