Federal Trade Commission Announces Formation of Merger Litigation Task Force

Joe Simons, Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition, today announced the formation of the Merger Litigation Task Force, which will be headed by Michael Cowie, an Assistant Director in the Bureau of Competition. The Task Force will be responsible for reinvigorating the Commission's hospital merger program, which includes a review of, and potential challenge to, consummated transactions that may have resulted in anticompetitive price increases. The Task Force also will focus on merger enforcement in the retail industry, particularly regarding matters involving food, beverages, and supermarkets.

"Personnel in the new task force have been responsible for pursuing the agency's actions in some of the Commission's recent notable cases, including baby food (Heinz/Beech Nut), pet food (Nestle/Ralston Purina), and distilled spirits (Diageo/Vivendi)," Simons said. "I expect that, under the leadership of Mike Cowie, they will continue with increasing effectiveness to review and, if necessary, to recommend challenges to transactions that may harm consumers."