FTC Approves Final Order Restoring Competition for Adult Cardiology Services in Reno, Nevada

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order restoring competition for adult cardiology services in Reno, Nevada. Under the order, Renown Health, the largest provider of acute care hospital services in northern Nevada, released its cardiologist employees from “non-compete” contract clauses, allowing up to 10 of them to join […]

FTC Staff Opinion: The Methodist Hospital System May Sell Discounted Shortage Drugs to Baytown EMS as an Emergency Humanitarian Gesture; FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Universal Health Services, Inc.s Acquisition of Ascend Health

FTC Staff Opinion: The Methodist Hospital System May Sell Discounted Shortage Drugsto Baytown EMS as an Emergency Humanitarian Gesture In a letter issued today, the staff of the Federal Trade Commission advised The Methodist Hospital System that its proposal to resell pharmaceuticals it purchased at a discount to Baytown EMS is a permissible emergency humanitarian […]

FTC Seeks Public Comments as Part of Its Review of Guides Advising Businesses How to Avoid Illegal Discrimination in the Provision of Promotional Allowances and Services

As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s systematic review of its rules and guides, the agency is seeking public comments on the guidance it gives manufacturers and wholesalers as to how they can provide advertising allowances and other promotional payments and services to retailers without running afoul of the Robinson-Patman Act. The Robinson-Patman Act prohibits […]

FTC Files Amicus Brief Explaining That Pharmaceutical “Product Hopping” Can Be the Basis for an Antitrust Lawsuit

The Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus brief before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania explaining that minor, non-therapeutic changes to a branded pharmaceutical product that harm generic competition can constitute exclusionary conduct that violates U.S. antitrust laws. Although U.S. courts are properly reluctant to question the innovative value of a […]

FTC Order Restores Competition in U.S. Market for Equipment Used to Recharge Vehicle Air Conditioning Systems

The Federal Trade Commission will require Robert Bosch GmbH to sell a business that makes equipment used to recharge vehicle air conditioning systems as part of an agreement resolving charges that Bosch’s acquisition of SPX Service Solutions U.S. LLC would have been anticompetitive.  Under the agreement, Bosch also will grant manufacturers licenses to key patents […]

FTC Requires Divestitures for Hertz’s Proposed $2.3 Billion Acquisition of Dollar Thrifty to Preserve Competition in Airport Car Rental Markets

The Federal Trade Commission will require Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (Hertz) to sell its Advantage Rent A Car (Advantage) business, as well as the rights to operate 29 Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (Dollar Thrifty) on-airport locations around the country, under a proposed settlement that resolves charges that Hertz’s $2.3 billion acquisition of Dollar Thrifty […]

FTC Closes Its Investigation Into Hilcorp Alaskas Proposed Acquisition of Marathon Alaskas Natural Gas Production, Transmission, and Storage Assets

The Federal Trade Commission has closed its nonpublic investigation of Hilcorp Alaska LLC’s proposed acquisition of Marathon Alaska LLC’s Cook Inlet, Alaska, natural gas production, storage, and pipeline assets without taking any action, and the Commission has issued a related statement. The Commission vote to close the investigation was 5-0.  The closing letters to the […]

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Pharmacy Group in Puerto Rico Engaged in Illegal Anticompetitive Conduct

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that a Puerto Rican cooperative of pharmacy owners, Cooperativa de Farmacias Puertorriquenas, known as “Coopharma,” harmed competition by negotiating and entering into agreements among its member pharmacies to fix prices on which they contract with insurers and pharmacy benefit […]

FTC Puts Conditions on Corning’s Proposed Purchase of Discovery Labware, Inc

The Federal Trade Commission will require Corning, Inc. to transfer assets and to supply some of its laboratory products to another company, under a proposed settlement that resolves charges that Corning’s proposed acquisition of Becton, Dickinson and Company’s Discovery Labware Division would otherwise be anticompetitive. Under the FTC settlement, Corning will provide assets and assistance […]

FTC Places Conditions on Watson Pharmaceutical’s Proposed Acquisition of Actavis

The Federal Trade Commission will require Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Actavis Inc. to sell the rights and assets to 18 drugs to Sandoz International GmbH and Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc, and relinquish the manufacturing and marketing rights to three others, to settle charges that Watson’s proposed $5.9 billion acquisition of Actavis would otherwise be anticompetitive. The […]