China National Chemical Corporation (“ChemChina”) and Swiss global agricultural company Syngenta AG have agreed to divest three types of pesticides, in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their proposed merger would harm competition in several U.S. markets. According to a complaint filed by the FTC, the merger as originally proposed is likely to […]
Tag Archives: Bureau of Competition Competition
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Puerto Rico Ophthalmologist Group Agreed to an Illegal Boycott of Health Plan
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that OFTACOOP, a Puerto Rican ophthalmologist cooperative, unlawfully orchestrated an agreement among competing ophthalmologists to refuse to deal with a health plan, MCS Advantage, Inc., and its network administrator, Eye Management of Puerto Rico, LLC. First announced in January […]
FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Competition in U.S. Markets for Animal Health Products
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Boehringer Ingelheim’s $13.53 billion asset swap with Paris-based Sanofi would likely be anticompetitive. First announced in December 2016, the FTC’s complaint alleged that as proposed, the swap would likely harm competition in the U.S. markets for various vaccines […]
FTC Acting Chairman Ohlhausen Announces Tad Lipsky as Acting Director of Bureau of Competition; Other Staffing Changes
Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen announced today that she has appointed Abbott (Tad) Lipsky, a partner at the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP, to be the Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, effective March 6, 2017. “The FTC plays an indispensable role in ensuring that the American […]
FTC Preserves Competition in Merger of Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp
Energy infrastructure companies Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the proposed merger of Enbridge and Spectra likely would harm competition in the market for pipeline transportation of natural gas in three production areas off the coast of Louisiana. According to the FTC’s complaint, the merger likely […]
FTC Charges That Shire ViroPharma Inc. Abused Government Processes Through Serial, Sham Petitioning to Delay Generics and Maintain its Monopoly over Vancocin HCl Capsules
The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in federal district court charging Shire ViroPharma Inc. (“ViroPharma”) with violating the antitrust laws by abusing government processes to delay generic competition to its branded prescription drug, Vancocin HCl Capsules. The complaint alleges that because of ViroPharma’s actions, consumers and other purchasers paid hundreds of millions of dollars […]
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Agrees to Abandon Anticompetitive Pay-for-Delay Agreements to Settle FTC Charges; FTC Refiles Suits Against Generic Defendants
The Federal Trade Commission has refiled a complaint and filed a proposed stipulated order in federal court to resolve charges that Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Endo International plc violated the antitrust laws by using pay-for-delay settlements to block consumers’ access to lower-cost generic versions of its two top-selling branded drugs, Lidoderm and Opana ER, in […]
FTC Charges Qualcomm With Monopolizing Key Semiconductor Device Used in Cell Phones
The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in federal district court charging Qualcomm Inc. with using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its monopoly in the supply of a key semiconductor device used in cell phones and other consumer products. Qualcomm is the world’s dominant supplier of baseband processors – devices that manage cellular communications in mobile […]
In Two Separate Actions, FTC Charges Investors with Violations of U.S. Premerger Notification Requirements
Hedge fund founder Ahmet H. Okumus has agreed to pay $180,000 in civil penalties to resolve Federal Trade Commission allegations that he violated the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act by failing to report his purchases of voting securities in the internet services company Web.com Group Inc. In a separate action, entrepreneur Mitchell P. Rales has agreed to pay […]
FTC Staff Provides Supplemental Public Comment in Virginia Opposing Health Systems’ Cooperative Agreement Application
The Federal Trade Commission staff submitted a supplemental comment and analysis to the Virginia Department of Health that opposes issuing a letter authorizing a cooperative agreement to Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System. The supplemental comment replies to Mountain States and Wellmont’s October 14, 2016 response to FTC staff’s previous comment, and provides […]