Markets Wired

FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of Panasonic Corporation/Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order on Panasonic Corporation’s acquisition of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. The final order settles charges that Panasonic’s purchase of Sanyo would have undermined competition in the worldwide market for nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which power two-way radios and other products, and are used by police and fire departments nationwide.

The FTC vote approving the final order was 4-0. (FTC File No. 0910050; the staff contact is Brendan McNamara, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-3703. See press release dated November 24, 2009, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/11/sanyo.shtm.)

FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Matter of Service Corporation International and Palm Mortuary, Inc.

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order on Service Corporation International’s acquisition of Palm Mortuary of Nevada. The final order settles charges that SCI’s purchase of Palm Mortuary would have substantially reduced competition in the highly concentrated market for cemetery services in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.

The FTC vote approving the final order was 4-0. (FTC File No. 091-0138, Docket No. C-4275; the staff contact is Goldie V. Walker, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2919. See press release dated November 25, 2009, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/11/sci.shtm.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(FYI 2.2010.wpd)