Tag: Competition

The FTC required AmeriGas L.P. and Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP), two of the nation's largest propane distributors, to amend AmeriGas's proposed acquisition of ETP's Heritage Propane business as part of a settlement with the FTC. The settlement resolves FTC charges that the deal, as originally proposed, would have reduced competition and raised prices in the market for propane exchange cylinders that consumers use to fuel barbeque grills and patio heaters. The FTC's settlement requires AmeriGas to exclude ETP's cylinder exchange business, Heritage Propane Express, from the sale.

The Commission required Cardinal Health, Inc. to reconstitute and sell nuclear pharmacies in Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas under a settlement order resolving the agency’s charges that Cardinal’s purchase of nuclear pharmacies from Biotech reduced competition for low-energy radiopharmaceuticals in the three cities.

The FTC required specialty metals manufacturer Carpenter Technology Corporation to sell assets involved in producing two metal alloys used in the aerospace industry, under a settlement resolving charges that Carpenter's proposed $410 million acquisition of Latrobe Specialty Metals, Inc. would harm competition in the U.S. markets for these alloys.The FTC's complaint alleges that the deal – a merger to monopoly – likely would lead to higher prices for consumers of the two alloys.  The order requires Carpenter to divest assets necessary for manufacturing the two alloys – MP159 and Aerospace MP35N – to another metals manufacturer, Eramet S.A.

The FTC filed an administrative complaint challenging OSF Healthcare System’s proposed acquisition of Rockford Health System, charging that the acquisition would substantially reduce competition among hospitals and primary care physicians in Rockford, Illinois, and significantly harm local businesses and patients. The FTC filed a separate complaint in federal district court seeking an order to halt the transaction temporarily to preserve competition for Rockford area residents pending the FTC’s administrative proceeding and any subsequent appeals. On 4/5/2012, the U.S. District Court ruled granting the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction. On 4/13/2012, the FTC dismissed the complaint in light of OSF Healthcare's decision to abandon the proposed transaction.