WASHINGTON — Chinese regulators want more time to review Bethesda-based Marriott International’s proposed $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
At the request of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the hotels have agreed to extend the time period for it to complete its review of the merger, Marriott said. The additional review could delay the merger by as long as two months.
Chinese regulatory approval is the last hurdle for merger to clear. It has already received clearances from regulators in more than 40 countries, where the two companies do business.
Marriott’s Starwood acquisition received unconditional approval from European regulators in June.
Shareholders of both companies have overwhelmingly approved the merger.
The deal will make Marriott the largest hotel operator in the world, bringing together hotel names like Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard and JW Marriott with Sheraton, Westin and St. Regis.
The combined companies will have more than 1 million hotel rooms at 5,700 hotel properties across the globe.
