antitrust
Every record this desk has filed under antitrust, newest first, each with the number of sources it can still show you.
DOJ will monitor a second planned Maine plant sale after its Vistra-Cogentrix power-merger concern
The Justice Department says it remained concerned about competition in New England power generation after Vistra decided to sell one facility as part of its Cogentrix acquisition. The companies then decided to sell Cogentrix's Rumford, Maine, gas plant too. DOJ says the second sale would reduce their ability and incentive to withhold electricity and raise prices, and it will monitor that sale; the announcement does not say it is complete.
Also filed underelectricitynew-englandmergersconsumer-costs
FTC and states sue to block PlayPower's purchase of Burke, alleging higher playground prices for schools and parks
The FTC and state attorneys general filed an October 19 lawsuit seeking to block PlayPower's acquisition of playground manufacturer Burke. Their complaint alleges the deal would reduce price, service, quality and innovation competition for schools, parks, churches and other buyers. These are allegations in a pending court challenge, not findings that the merger has caused harm.
Also filed underplaygroundsschoolsparksmergersftc
FTC proposes data firewalls and neutral LiveRamp access for Publicis's acquisition of the advertising-data company
The FTC accepted proposed consent terms for Publicis's approximately $2.2 billion acquisition of LiveRamp on October 19, subject to final approval. The terms would protect competing customers' access and confidential data, with independent audits and customer protections. The agency announced a 30-day public-comment period; the proposed order is not a final adjudication of the complaint's allegations.
Also filed underadvertisingdata-protectionmergersftc
FTC and USDA open a joint inquiry into farm equipment manufacturing and distribution, inviting farmers and repair shops to submit evidence of restrictions and retaliation by December 7
The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a joint request for information on October 7, inviting farmers, independent repair providers, and current and former employees of agricultural equipment manufacturers and dealers to document restrictions and retaliation. The request, docket FTC-2026-1585, poses 13 numbered questions. Comments go through Regulations.gov and are due by December 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Also filed underagricultureright-to-repairftcusda
FTC reaches proposed settlement with Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits over price discrimination against independent retailers, pending court approval
The FTC filed a proposed settlement October 2 resolving its December 2024 lawsuit, which accused wine and spirits distributor Southern Glazer's of charging independent retailers as much as 12% to 67% more than large chains for the same bottles, in violation of the Robinson-Patman Act. The proposed order covers 26 states for six years and lets the company cure an overcharge above $5,000 by paying the retailer 1.5 times it. A judge must still sign it; the company denies the allegations and the order is not an admission.
Also filed underprice-discriminationsmall-businessrobinson-patman-actwine-and-spirits
Western Union and Intermex refile their merger's federal antitrust notice because the 2025 clearance lapses October 6, 2026
Western Union and International Money Express each filed a Form 8-K on Friday, October 2, saying their August 2025 merger agreement needs a new round of federal antitrust clearance. The waiting period on the original filing expired October 6, 2025, and clearance under that law lasts one year, so a new filing is needed to complete the merger after October 6, 2026. Both companies refiled on October 2, starting a new 30-day waiting period; a separate California approval remains suspended, and neither filing states a closing date.
Also filed undermergerswestern-unionremittancessec-filings
Corteva agrees to end pesticide rebates the FTC and 12 states say kept cheaper generics off distributors' shelves: for 10 years no loyalty rebate may hinge on buying more than half of an off-patent ingredient from Corteva, where the complaint alleged one Corteva program required generally at least 85 percent, and the states get $35 million to spend as their attorneys general see fit, while the case against Syngenta goes on.
Corteva, Inc. has agreed to settle its part of the antitrust case the Federal Trade Commission and 12 states brought in 2022 over pesticide 'loyalty' rebates. Under a stipulated order filed September 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Corteva may not, for 10 years, run loyalty programs that condition payments or other benefits on a distributor buying more than 50 percent of its needs for an off-patent Corteva active ingredient from Corteva, or cap its generic purchases below 50 percent. The amended complaint alleged that one of the two Corteva programs it challenged set thresholds of generally at least 85 percent. Corteva will pay $35,000,000 to California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin; their attorneys general decide how to use it, and distribution to farmers is one of seven permitted uses. Corteva does not admit the allegations. The order takes effect when the judge signs it. The FTC's September 28 release says litigation against Syngenta remains ongoing.
Also filed underftcpesticidesagriculturecortevasyngentastate-attorneys-general
Two executive orders on beef: one tells USDA to expand investigations of meatpackers and report back in 60 days, the other opens the door to mandatory country-of-origin labeling and to delisting the gray wolf. Neither carries a dollar.
Executive Orders 14424 and 14425, both signed September 4 and published September 10, address cattle. The first directs the Agriculture Secretary to prioritize and expand Packers and Stockyards Act investigations of meatpackers, increase staffing in three USDA offices, coordinate with the Justice Department under a 2025 memorandum, and report to the President within 60 days; it also promises a guaranteed loan program for small and regional beef processors, with no amount and no date. The second orders a 90-day review that may lead to mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, directs Interior to decide whether the gray wolf and Mexican wolf have met recovery criteria for delisting, and tells every agency to make sure the measures reach consumers 'in the form of lower prices'. It states that the national cattle herd is at a 75-year low while beef demand has risen almost 10 percent in a decade, without sourcing either figure. Neither order creates an enforceable right.
Also filed underexecutive-orderagriculturebeefranchersendangered-speciesfederal-register
A court ordered Google to wire its ad tools to a rival open-source standard, hand publishers their own data, and stop letting AdWords bid preferentially into its own exchange — under a monitor, for six years.
On September 16 the Justice Department announced the remedies ruling in United States et al. v. Google LLC, the advertising-technology monopolization case in the Eastern District of Virginia. The relief is behavioral rather than structural, and specific: Google must build and support integrations between AdX and Prebid and between DFP and Prebid; AdX must submit real-time bids to competing publisher ad servers; publishers must be able to access and export their own data out of DFP and AdX; and AdWords — which DOJ says the court called Google's 'golden goose' — may not bid preferentially into AdX or other Google tools, and may not bid directly into DFP at all. A monitor and a technical committee will oversee compliance for six years, the length of the Final Judgment. DOJ says it 'continues to review the court's opinion' and will decide next steps.
Also filed underdojgooglead-techcourt-recordsremedies
Beretta wanted up to 25% of Ruger and two seats on its board. The FTC says two seats between competitors is an illegal interlocking directorate, and took the seats away — with 30 days for the public to object.
On September 16 the Federal Trade Commission accepted a proposed consent order resolving antitrust concerns over a stock purchase agreement between Beretta Holding S.A. and Sturm, Ruger & Co. Under the deal Beretta would raise its stake to as much as 25 percent of Ruger's outstanding shares and appoint two members of Ruger's board — which the FTC alleges would create an illegal interlocking directorate under Section 8 of the Clayton Act. The order bars Beretta from causing anyone who is not independent of Beretta to join Ruger's board, requires 15 days' advance written notice before any such appointment, and bars Beretta from hiring or entering financial relationships with an independent director it nominated until a year after that director leaves. The Commission voted 2-0; the public has 30 days to comment.
Also filed underftcclayton-actinterlocking-directoratescomment-deadline
A record appears here because it carries antitrust in its own tags. If a record you expected is missing, it was filed under a different subject — the full list is on the topics index.