ACCO refiles papers for MeadWestvaco merger

Lincolnshire-based ACCO Brands Corp. said it has voluntarily withdrawn and will refile the notification and report form with the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with the company's proposed merger of MeadWestvaco Corporation's Consumer & Office Products business.

ACCO originally filed the required on Dec. 16, 2011, and plans to refile on Jan. 19 in order to restart the initial mandatory waiting period and to provide the Department of Justice additional time to review the proposed transaction. Upon refiling, the federal agency will have an additional 30-day period in which to determine whether to close its investigation or issue a request for additional information and documentary material.

ACCO Brands and MeadWestvaco have been working cooperatively with the agency as it conducts its review of the proposed transaction and will continue to do so through the completion of that review, the company said in a release.

ACCO Brands and MeadWestvaco signed an agreement Nov. 17, 2011 to merge MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products business into ACCO Brands in a transaction which was valued at approximately $860 million. Upon completion of the transaction, 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.