TELECOMS firm BT has confirmed it doesn’t expect its £12.5bn takeover of a major North-East employer to be completed until next year.

The company says its move for EE will be finalised by the end of March 2016.

The announcement comes after BT asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to take its probe into the deal to a second, in-depth phase.

Bosses argue the approach will not reduce competition in the fixed and mobile market, and have asked CMA to fast-track to a phase two investigation, “to consider any complex issues in-depth, without delay.”

EE is Darlington’s largest private employer with about 2,000 call centre staff, and the company has hundreds more workers at sites in Doxford, Sunderland, and Cobalt Business Park, near Newcastle.

BT launched its bid for EE late last year.

If approved, it will make it one of the top ten largest companies in the region, giving it an 8,800-strong workforce and extended scope to offer fixed-lines phones, mobiles and TV.

It will also gain EE’s 4G network, which provides users with instant internet access.

BT shareholders previously gave their backing for the EE move, and Gavin Patterson, BT Group chief executive, said the deal will increase competition.

He added: “This will be good for consumers, businesses and the UK, as well as for shareholders, so we are keen to get regulatory clearance.

“A larger BT will be able to invest and innovate even more, something that’s good for jobs and good for customers.”

EE previously told The Northern Echo no jobs will be immediately affected in the deal, with bosses expecting it to continue in its current guise throughout 2015 as the agreement is finalised.

However, BT said it was too early to confirm what, if any, changes to North-East jobs would be made.