The pending merger of American Electric Power (AEP) of Columbus,OH, and Central and South West Corp. of Dallas, TX, receivedantitrust clearance from the Department of Justice. Approvals thatremain include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Securities andExchange Commission (SEC). Upon completion of the merger, the newcompany will be called American Electric Power.

“The FERC has indicated it will act on our merger no later thanFebruary or March,” said AEP CEO E. Linn Draper Jr. “The SEC actionfollows the FERC’s decision. We are on track to complete theapprovals in the spring.”

The administrative law judge who presided over the FERC mergerhearing found the AEP-CSW merger to be consistent with the publicinterest. AEP and CSW also reached a settlement with the FERC trialstaff in which the staff supports a finding that the merger willhave no adverse effect on competition. The merger has receivedapproval from state regulatory commissions in Arkansas, Louisiana,Oklahoma and Texas, the four states within CSW’s service territory.The companies have made settlement agreements with theInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and theUtility Workers Union of America as well as with the IndianaUtility Regulatory Commission (IURC). AEP and CSW also have asettlement agreement with key parties in Kentucky that has beenapproved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission; a settlementagreement approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission; and asettlement agreement with the Missouri Public Service Commission.The Public Utility Commission of Ohio has told the FERC it is nolonger opposing the deal.

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