Cbs Takeover Moves Closer To Approval

Federal regulators are prepared to remove the last obstacle to Westinghouse Electric Corp.’s $5.4 billion takeover of CBS Inc. after the government’s partial shutdown is over.

The deal, approved by CBS shareholders Thursday, had been hung up at the Federal Communications Commission.

FCC attorneys, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday the commissioners tentatively agreed to avoid directly linking approval of the takeover with Westinghouse’s voluntary decision in September to air more educational shows for children.

The commissioners had been divided over whether the two should be linked in any way.