Mar, It's also possible PhRMA is holding the FTC approval...they have a collective market cap of over a Trillion $$$.
"The trade group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, known as PhRMA, is plunging into battles over drug prices here and in many state capitols. And the request from the generic company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, is raising eyebrows in PhRMA’s secretive councils."
PhRMA will need to accept this merger prior to closing IMO and TEVA will have to back off trying in invalidate every drug patent filed at the USPTO.
"PhRMA describes itself as the principal voice of the innovative pharmaceutical industry, and Teva does sell substantial amounts of brand-name drugs, including Copaxone for multiple sclerosis. But the huge size of Teva’s generics business and its plan to acquire the worldwide generic operations of Allergan for $40.5 billion “raise serious questions about Teva’s commitment to innovation,” said Mr. Alban, whose company makes brand-name drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis C and H.I.V. infection.
He noted that Teva had taken positions “directly opposed to PhRMA views” on patents, the lifeblood of the brand-name pharmaceutical industry, and biosimilars, which are copycat versions of costly biologic drugs made from living organisms.