Every year the FTC brings hundreds of cases against individuals and companies for violating consumer protection and competition laws that the agency enforces. These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anti-competitive behavior and more. The Legal Library has detailed information about cases we have brought in federal court or through our internal administrative process, called an adjudicative proceeding.
Valero Energy Corporation and Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation
The consent order permitted Valero to complete its $6 billion merger with Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation, but required the divestiture of Ultramar's Golden Eagle Refinery, bulk gasoline contracts, and 70 Ultramar retail service stations in Northern California to a Commission-approved acquirer. According to the complaint, the merger as originally proposed, would have lessened competition in two refining markets in California resulting in consumers paying more than $150million annually if the price of CARB gasoline increased just one cent per gallon. CARB gasoline meets the specifications of the California Air Resources Board.
1268957 Ontario, Inc., et al.
Palm, Inc., In the Matter of
Deutsche Gelatine-Fabriken Stoess AG and Goodman Fielder Limited
The Commission authorized staff to seek a preliminary injunction to block DGF’s proposed acquisition of Leiner Davis Gelatin Corporation and its Goodman Fielder USA, Inc. subsidiary. According to the Commission this transaction, if allowed to proceed as planned, would increase the likelihood of anticompetitive activity in the U.S. market for pigskin and beef hide gelatin, used by the food industry as an ingredient in edible products and by the pharmaceutical industry to produce capsules and tablets. The combination of the two firms would account for more than 50 percent of the relevant market in the U.S. A proposed consent agreement designed to remedy the significant antitrust concerns was accepted for public comment March 7, 2002; the consent order was finalized April 17, 2002.
TechnoBrands, Inc., and Charles J. Anton, In the Matter of
Sound City 2000, Inc., and Linda M. Simmons., U.S. (for the FTC)
Walker, David L., d/b/a DLW Consulting, Inc.
Pharmaceutical Formulations, Inc.
Leiner Health Products, Inc.
Pacheco, Fernando, a/k/a Frank Pacheco, individually and d/b/a E-Solutions and E-Solutions 101
Exxon Corporation and Mobil Corporation
A consent order settled antitrust concerns stemming from Exxon's acquisition of Mobil Corporation, but requires the largest retail divestiture in Commission history. The divestitures, representing only a fraction of the worldwide assets of Exxon and Mobil, include 2,431 gas stations; an Exxon refinery in California; a pipeline; and other assets. According to the complaint, the proposed merger would injure competition in moderate concentrated markets -California gasoline refining, marketing and retail sales of gasoline in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Texas; and in the highly concentrated markets for jet turbine oil.
Streamline International, Inc., et al.
Albertson's, Inc. and American Stores Company
The final order, modified after the public comment period, does not require the divestiture of a Lucky (American Stores Company) store in Lompoc, California to Ralph's. Albertson's Inc. agreed to divest 104 supermarkets and American Stores Company agreed to divest 40 supermarkets to settle charges that Albertson's acquisition of American Stores raises antitrust concerns in 57 markets in California, Nevada and New Mexico. The divestiture agreement is the largest retail divestiture of supermarkets ever required by the Commission to date.