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.
FMC Corporation and Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd
A consent order settled charges that FMC and Asahi Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. of Japan entered into a conspiracy to divide the world market for microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a binder used in making pharmaceutical tablets, into two territories. According to the complaint, FMC allegedly agreed not to sell the pharmaceutical to customers in Japan or East Asia without Asahi Chemical's consent, while Asahi Chemical agreed not to sell the pharmaceutical to customers in North America or Europe without the consent of FMC. The final order prohibits such behavior in the future and restricts FMC from acting as the U.S. distributor for any competing manufacturer of microcrystalline cellulose (including Asahi Chemical) for 10 years. In addition, for five years, FMC is prohibited from distributing in the United States any other product manufactured by Asahi Chemical.
Roche Holding Ltd, In the Matter of
Roche agreed to divest, certain assets in the U.S. and Canada to settle antitrust concerns stemming from its proposed acquisition of Corange Limited. The consent order permits the acquisition but requires the divestiture of Cardiac thrombolytic agents (drugs used to treat heart attack victims) and ongoing business assets relating to chemicals used to test for the presence of illegal or abused drugs.
Stout, Robert; d/b/a Global Internet Federal Registry, Inc., et al.
Pacific Office Systems, Inc., Suzette Oppenheim, and Leslie Oppenheim
Great Pacific Vending Corp. and Collie Wainer
Win USA Services, Ltd., et al., FTC, et al.
El Paso Energy Corporation and PG&E Corporation
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, In the Matter of
Tyco International, Ltd., In the Matter of
Tyco settled antitrust concerns relating to its acquisition of Mallinckrodt, Inc. Tyco agreed to divest its endotracheal tube business to Hudson RCI.
Manheim Auctions, Inc., Cox Enterprises, Inc., ADT Automotive Holdings, Inc., and Tyco International, Ltd
The consent order settles antitrust concerns stemming from the acquisition of ADT Automotive Holdings, Inc., the nation's third largest operator of wholesale motor vehicle auctions, by Manheim Auctions, the nation's leading operator of auctions. The complaint alleged that the proposed acquisition would substantially reduce competition among wholesale auction services in six geographic markets. In addition, the complaint alleges that Manheim's 1996 acquisition of its only rival in Phoenix resulted in a merger to monopoly in that market. The order requires Manheim to divest nine auctions in Kansas City, Missouri; Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach, Florida; and Phoenix, Arizona.
Berkley, Michael T., D.C., and Mark A. Cassellius, D.C
Digital Equipment Corporation
Final order settles allegations that Intel's acquisition of Digital Equipment Corporation's assets could endanger the continuing and future development of the Alpha microprocessor, a direct competitor of Intel's Pentium line of computer system components. The order requires Digital to license the Alpha technology to Advanced Micro Devices and to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. or to other Commission-approved companies to manufacture Digital's microprocessor devices.