The Federal Trade Commission has authorized an action to block Illumina Inc.’s proposed $1.2 billion acquisition of Pacific Biosciences of California (PacBio). The Commission alleges in an administrative complaint (a public version of which will be available and linked to this news release as soon as possible) that Illumina is seeking to unlawfully maintain its […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC Again Named One of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
The FTC ranked second overall out of 25 mid-sized agencies surveyed by the non-profit, non-partisan Partnership for Public Service, maintaining its position among the top-rated places to work in the federal government for 2019. The Commission earned the top spot in six categories: effective leadership; employee skills-mission match; strategic management; teamwork; innovation; and performance-based rewards […]
FTC Sending Additional Refund Checks to Consumers Who Bought LeanSpa Products
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,951 refund checks totaling over $321,000 to consumers who bought supposed weight-loss products marketed by LeanSpa, LLC. This is the second round of checks in this matter. The FTC and the State of Connecticut sued the marketers of LeanSpa in December 2011, charging that they used fake websites to […]
Federal Trade Commission Closes Investigation of Roche Holding AG’s Proposed Acquisition of Spark Therapeutics, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission has closed its investigation into Roche Holding AG’s proposed acquisition of Spark Therapeutics, Inc. According to a Commission Statement, after an exhaustive, 10-month investigation into whether the merger would lessen potential competition in the U.S. market for hemophilia A therapies, the evidence “did not indicate that Roche would have the incentive […]
Court Orders Operators of Deceptive Rental Listing Websites to Pay $6 Million, Permanently Bans Them from Offering Rental Listings
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court ordered the operators of several online rental listings websites to pay more than $6 million after the FTC alleged that they made false and unfounded claims about their listings. The order also permanently bans the defendants from offering rental listing services. Steven and Kevin […]
Deputy Bureau of Competition Director Marian Bruno Retiring
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joseph Simons today announced that Marian Bruno, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Competition, is stepping down and will retire at the end of the year. “Marian has been a core contributor to the FTC’s competition mission for many years. In addition to overseeing the Bureau’s enforcement of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act […]
FTC Approves Final Order Imposing Conditions on NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC’s Acquisition of Generation Pipeline LLC
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC’s acquisition of Generation Pipeline LLC would likely harm competition to provide natural gas pipeline transportation in a three-county area. NEXUS is a joint venture between DTE Energy Company and Enbridge Inc. The complaint, which […]
Operators of Phantom Debt Scheme Permanently Banned From Debt Collection under Settlement with FTC
The operators of a scheme that conned consumers into paying non-existent debts will be permanently banned from the debt collection business and from misleading consumers about debt in a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC filed a complaint against Global Asset Financial Services Group, LLC in February, alleging that the operators of the […]
FTC Obtains Record $191 Million Settlement from University of Phoenix to Resolve FTC Charges It Used Deceptive Advertising to Attract Prospective Students
The University of Phoenix (UOP) and its parent company, Apollo Education Group, will settle for a record $191 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges – that they used deceptive advertisements that falsely touted their relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter, and The American Red Cross. Under the settlement […]
Operators of Tech Support Scam Settle FTC Allegations they Tricked Consumers into Buying Computer Repair Services
A Utah-based company and its owner are permanently banned from offering tech support products and services to consumers as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission resolving allegations that their scheme tricked consumers into believing their computers were infected with viruses in order to sell them costly computer repair services. In a complaint […]