Antitrust Talks Between Lockheed, U.S. Fail

Lockheed Martin Corp. said weekend talks with the U.S. Department of Justice failed to resolve antitrust concerns about its proposed $12-billion purchase of Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp., increasing the likelihood that the government will file suit to block the transaction as early as today. On Thursday, federal antitrust officials gave the companies until 10 a.m. today to respond to their concerns, saying that otherwise they would seek a court order blocking the acquisition. Federal officials said they are concerned because the combination would make Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin the sole source of electro-optical and infrared missile countermeasures and give it control of 72% of the market for radio frequency countermeasures.