Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved two amended applications by Fidelity National Financial Inc. to sell Oregon real estate title plant assets, as required by the FTC order settling charges that Fidelity’s acquisition of Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) was likely to harm competition.
On April 24, 2014, Fidelity filed an application seeking approval to divest title plants in six Oregon counties to AmeriTitle, Inc. and a second application seeking approval to divest its interest in the Portland title plant to Old Republic Title Company of Oregon to comply with the FTC’s order.
In May, Fidelity filed amended applications seeking approval to divest title plants in five Oregon counties to AmeriTitle, excluding the title plant in Polk County; and a second amended application seeking approval to divest the Polk County title plant and the interest in the Portland title plant to Old Republic.
The Commission vote approving both amended divestiture applications was 4-1, with Commissioner Joshua D. Wright voting no. The agency responded to two public comments received regarding the applications. (FTC File No. 131-0159, Docket No. C-4425; the staff contact is Naomi Licker, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2851)
The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust{at}ftc{dot}gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room CC-5422, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.