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The Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting public comments on an application by Graco Inc. to divest certain liquid finishing businesses and related assets to Carlisle Companies Inc.  Under the terms of the Commission’s October 2014 modified final order, Graco is required to divest these assets to settle charges that its acquisition of the liquid finishing businesses of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and ITW Finishing Inc. in 2012 was anticompetitive. Graco now requests FTC approval to divest the assets to Carlisle.

According to the divestiture application, Carlisle is a 95-year-old, publicly traded company that is strategically well situated to restore competition in the liquid finishing market that may have otherwise been lost through the transaction.  

The Commission will decide whether to approve the proposed divestiture after expiration of 30-day public comment period. Public comments may be submitted until December 1, 2014. Written comments can be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Comments should be filed electronically if possible.  

 (FTC File No. 111-0169; Docket No. 9350; the staff contacts are Elizabeth Piotrowski, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2623; and Peter Richman, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2563.)

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.