Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application by Healthcare Technology Holdings, Inc., in which the company requested approval to sell two audit businesses of SDI Health LLC to inVentiv Health, Inc. The divestiture is required by the final FTC settlement order allowing Healthcare Technology’s subsidiary IMS Health Inc. to acquire SDI Health.

According to the application, the sale of SDI Health’s audit businesses would satisfy the terms of the FTC’s final order, which settled FTC charges that the underlying transaction would have been anticompetitive and in violation of the FTC and Clayton Acts. The audit businesses include SDI’s promotional and medical audit businesses.

The Commission vote approving the application was 4-0. (FTC File No. 111-0097, Docket No. C-4340; the staff contact is Roberta S. Baruch, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2861; see press release dated October 28, 2011.)

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@ftc.gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 601 New Jersey Ave., Room 7117, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(FYI 10.2012.wpd)