Mr. Frangenberg said that regulators had not actually ruled against a safety recall, however, and that regulators "reserved the right to ask for more information."

Last week, after regulators ruled that WPP must proceed with the $635 million acquisition, WPP said it would appeal the decision.

European regulators will rule on the Sabena loan next Wednesday.

French regulators ultimately ruled that the accounting method was unacceptable, and Vivendi treated the shares as a liability instead.

Recently, regulators ruled that accountants could no longer have compensation arrangements with software companies.

The regulators ruled that the agency could provide - and LIPA must transmit - up to 200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 200,000 average homes.

But regulators ruled that if the company wanted out of that business it would have to get out of Florida entirely, abandoning its lucrative life insurance business there as well.

But regulators ruled against him and last week dismissed his appeal.

As it now reads, the fast-track legislation stipulates that if regulators do not rule within the time limit, the permit is automatically approved.

In a statement today, the regulators ruled that Olivetti's revised bid was "such as to furnish the market the information necessary for the bid," which could now go ahead sometime in April.