Feds clear road for ACCO, MeadWestvaco business merger

The U.S. Justice Department has ended its review of the proposed merger of Lincolnshire-based ACCO Brands Corp with of MeadWestvaco Corp. s Consumer & Office Products.

The department’s Antitrust Division granted an early termination of the waiting period required after a the initial merger announcement, ACCO said in a news release today. The company also said the waiting period required by the Canada Competition Act has expired.

ACCO announced plans to acquire MeadWestvaco’s Consumer & Office Products business in November 2011 for approximately $860 million. Under the terms, MeadWestvaco shareholders will own 50.5 percent of the combined company. The proposed merger is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012, the company said, subject to approval from ACCO Brands’ shareholders.