FirstEnergy and GPU took another step toward sealing theirmerger that would create the nation’s sixth largest investor-ownedelectric system serving 4.3 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvaniaand New Jersey. The companies’ shareholders overwhelmingly votedyesterday to approve the $12 billion union at concurrentshareholder meetings. The merger still needs approvals from theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission, New Jersey Board of PublicUtilities, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, NuclearRegulatory Commission, Federal Communications Commission,Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justiceunder the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The companies expect the deal toclose sometime during the summer of 2001. Upon completion of theunion, the new company will adopt the name FirstEnergy and will bea registered holding company under the Public Utility HoldingCompany Act of 1935.

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