The merger of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s has hit a speed bump.
The Federal Trade Commission has asked Bass Pro Shops for more information on its $5.5 billion merger with Cabela’s, a move that is likely to hold up the deal for several months, The Post has learned.
Regulators this week needed to let the leading outdoors retailers know if they were prepared to clear the October merger after their first review.
They told the parties they are still hunting for more details about how the deal will impact competition, commonly referred to as a second request, two sources close to the situation said.
“The regulatory process will now take more than another month or two,” a source said.
Bass Pro has agreed to pay Cabela’s $65.50 a share. Cabela’s shares have risen from $60.65 on Nov. 14 to close Monday at $62.47 on the expectation the deal could close this week.
Cabela’s, though, on Oct. 26 set less optimistic expectations saying on an analyst call that the deal was expected to be completed in the first half of 2017.
In a confidential Bass lender presentation Bass said 45 percent of Bass Pro customers also shop at Cabela’s.