Antitrust Commentary

This blawg provides the latest antitrust news and commentary on recent antitrust developments—private and government litigation, civil and criminal government investigations and mergers and acquisitions including Hart-Scott-Rodino Act review.

Author: Matthew S. Wild is senior counsel at Levitt & Kaizer in New York City.

Blawg Related Categories: Antitrust Law • Mergers & Acquisitions • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Antitrust Commentary

Second Circuit Finds Article 3 Standing in Antitrust Challenge to Credit Card Arbitration Provisions
In Ross v. Bank of Am., N.A., No. 06-4755, 2008 WL 1836640 (2d Cir. Apr. 25, 2008), plaintiffs had alleged that the standard arbitration clauses in their credit card agreements with several issuers was the…
Fifth Circuit Rejects North Texas Specialty Physicians’ Petition for Review
On May 14, 2008, the Fifth Circuit rejected North Texas Specialty Physicians’ petition for review of an order that found certain of activities constituted price-fixing and therefore violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act and…
Sixth Circuit Rejects Daubert Challenge and Affirms Class Certification
In In re Scrap Metal Antitrust Litig., No. 06-4511, 2008 WL 2050820 (6th Cir. May 15, 2008), the Sixth Circuit affirmed the $20 million jury verdict. The Sixth Circuit rejected defendants’ Daubert challenge premised on the claim that…
FTC Conditions Its Approval of Retail Farm Store Merger on Divestitures in Michigan and Maryland
On May 5, 2008, the FTC conditioned its approval of Agrium’s $2.65 billion proposed acquisition of UAP Holding on divestitures on divestitures. The parties provide one-shopping for farms and farmers rely on these type of…
FTC Modifies Nine West’s Consent Decree to Allow Resale Price Maintenance
On May 6, 2008, the FTC granted Nine West’s petition to modify its consent decree to allow Nine West to engage in resale price maintenance with its dealers. In 2000, Nine West — a footwear…
FTC Obtains Conduct Consent Decree To Remedy Harm to Competition from Talx’ Acquisitions of Nearly All Competitors
On April 30, 2008, the FTC obtained a consent decree against Talx Corporation for violating Section 7 of the Clayton Act. With $270 million in revenue last year, Talx Corporation is the leading provider of…
DOJ Protects North Carolina Moviegoers
On April 30, 2008, the Antitrust Division conditioned its approval of an acquisition by Regal Cinemas, Inc. of Consolidated Theater Holdings GP on divestitures in Southern Charlotte, Northern and Southern Raleigh and Asheville. On January…
D.C. Circuit Grants Rambus’ FTC Petition For Review
Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted Rambus’ petition for review. This decision was much awaited among antitrust counselors because it represented an attempt by the FTC to extend the…
DOJ Indicts Another Defense Contractor
The Antitrust Division (Criminal Section) has been busy lately. On April 19, the Criminal Section obtained plea agreements in two separate investigations. Today, the Criminal Section announced the unsealing of an indictment in the United…
DOJ Obtains Two Guilty Pleas in Different Investigations
Today, an Italian executive agreed to plead guilty for his involvement in the Marine Hose Cartel. His plea agreement includes incarceration of one year and one day and a $20,000 fine. In addition, a Long…