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The FTC blocks mergers all the time. Here’s some in the news: https://khn.org/news/article/biden-ftc-block-hospital-mergers-antitrust/ https://khn.org/news/art

by js2 4y ago

The FTC blocks mergers all the time. Here’s some in the news: https://khn.org/news/article/biden-ftc-block-hospital-mergers-antitrust/ https://khn.org/news/article/biden-ftc-block-hospital-merger... https://www.airandspaceforces.com/ftc-blocks-merger-of-lockheed-and-aerojet-rocketdyne/ https://www.airandspaceforces.com/ftc-blocks-merger-of-lockh... https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nvidia-and-arm-merger-deal-blocked-by-ftc-on-competition-grounds https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nvidia-and-arm-merger-deal-b... https://www.housingwire.com/articles/50114-ftc-moves-to-block-12-billion-merger-of-fidelity-national-and-stewart/ https://www.housingwire.com/articles/50114-ftc-moves-to-bloc... https://www.legalbettingonline.com/news/daily-fantasy-sports-merger-blocked-by-ftc/ https://www.legalbettingonline.com/news/daily-fantasy-sports... Mostly the FTC’s work happens quietly and unnoticed, but there are annual reports here: https://www.ftc.gov/policy/reports/annual-competition-reports https://www.ftc.gov/policy/reports/annual-competition-report... And you can search merger actions here: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/merger-review https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/merger-review

solardev 4y ago
Are there any significant historical cases? The Nvidia and Arm one seems like a big deal (if it succeeds), but the others just seem like random low-hanging fruit. I feel like the ones that matter (ISPs, cell phone carriers gobbling each other up, the Microsoft/Facebook/Adobes of the world, AMD buying ATI...) never really get stopped.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- js2 4y ago
  AT&T/T-Mo blocked: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-antitrust-lawsuit-block-att-s-acquisition-t-mobile https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-anti... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_purchase_of_T-Mobile_USA_by_AT%26T https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_purchase_of_T-Mobile... T-Mo/Sprint would have been blocked (and fell apart multiple times) if not for the Trump administration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merger_of_Sprint_Corporation_and_T-Mobile_US https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merger_of_Sprint_Corporation_a... I think you’re undervaluing the significance of the FTC’s everyday work, but I’ll agree with your the Federal government has not been aggressive enough in exercising its anti-trust authority.
  - solardev 4y ago
    Isn't AT&T/T-Mo a DoJ effort, not the FTC? I don't see the FTC's involvement in your links... were they cooperating behind the scenes somehow? The Sprint one was also DoJ, according to the wiki. I get that the FTC on paper is supposed to enforce things like that, but their track record doesn't seem great. It just feels like a zombie agency that used to have teeth a long time ago... Edit: I guess they've been squabbling for a while: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/the-ftc-and-doj-are-squabbling-over-the-right-to-regulate-big-tech.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/the-ftc-and-doj-are-squabbli... but maybe are trying to work it out? https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/federal-trade-commission-justice-department-seek-strengthen-enforcement-against-illegal-mergers https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/... Then probably the next Republican president will come along and just got both their efforts all over again...

by js2 4y ago

solardev 4y ago

Are there any significant historical cases? The Nvidia and Arm one seems like a big deal (if it succeeds), but the others just seem like random low-hanging fruit. I feel like the ones that matter (ISPs, cell phone carriers gobbling each other up, the Microsoft/Facebook/Adobes of the world, AMD buying ATI...) never really get stopped.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
js2 4y ago
AT&T/T-Mo blocked: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-antitrust-lawsuit-block-att-s-acquisition-t-mobile https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-anti... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_purchase_of_T-Mobile_USA_by_AT%26T https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_purchase_of_T-Mobile... T-Mo/Sprint would have been blocked (and fell apart multiple times) if not for the Trump administration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merger_of_Sprint_Corporation_and_T-Mobile_US https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merger_of_Sprint_Corporation_a... I think you’re undervaluing the significance of the FTC’s everyday work, but I’ll agree with your the Federal government has not been aggressive enough in exercising its anti-trust authority.
- solardev 4y ago
  Isn't AT&T/T-Mo a DoJ effort, not the FTC? I don't see the FTC's involvement in your links... were they cooperating behind the scenes somehow? The Sprint one was also DoJ, according to the wiki. I get that the FTC on paper is supposed to enforce things like that, but their track record doesn't seem great. It just feels like a zombie agency that used to have teeth a long time ago... Edit: I guess they've been squabbling for a while: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/the-ftc-and-doj-are-squabbling-over-the-right-to-regulate-big-tech.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/the-ftc-and-doj-are-squabbli... but maybe are trying to work it out? https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/federal-trade-commission-justice-department-seek-strengthen-enforcement-against-illegal-mergers https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/... Then probably the next Republican president will come along and just got both their efforts all over again...