Heft not enough to justify insurer deals, top DOJ lawyer says
Assistant Attorney General William Baer said that consumer choice is a bigger priority than health companies’ desire to add market share and gain leverage over providers like hospitals.
Antitrust
Articles
Antitrust lawyers said to be leaning against Comcast merger
Staff attorneys at the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division are nearing a recommendation to block Comcast Corp.’s bid to buy Time Warner Cable Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.
Indiana joins Feds in reviewing merger of Sysco, US Foods
Sysco, with annual revenue of about $44 billion, is the top operator in the U.S. food distribution business. Adding No. 2 US Foods would create a corporation in charge of at least a quarter of the North American market.
Antitrust lawsuit threatens ‘essence’ of NCAA
A former Rice University football player argues that one-year limits on athletic scholarships is a “blatant price-fixing agreement” between the NCAA and its member schools.
Feds require Simon to sell outlet centers
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it is requiring Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc., the largest U.S. mall owner, to sell outlets in a settlement related to the $2.3M purchase of Prime Outlets Acquisition Co.
Feds: AMC must sell some Indy theaters to make acquisition
The U.S. Justice Department said AMC Entertainment Group Inc., the second-largest U.S. movie theater owner, must sell some
cinemas to proceed with plans to buy most of those operated by Kerasotes Showplace Theatres.
Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger approved with conditions
The Justice Department imposed major conditions upon Live Nation and Ticketmaster in approving the companies’ merger, moves
that
Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney said would have the effect of lowering ticket prices.
Judge approves concrete price-fixing settlement
A federal judge has preliminarily approved a settlement in which a central Indiana concrete company agreed to pay $29 million
to resolve a class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging it and six other companies conspired to fix the price of ready-mixed
concrete.
Senate probing WellPoint, others over small-biz rates
The Senate health care committee is investigating how health insurers, including Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc., price
the coverage they sell to small businesses.
BATTEN: FTC could resolve antitrust concerns on health care reform
President Obama recently announced a cooperative initiative where health care industry leaders plan to
work together to reform the ailing health care system. Shortly after that announcement, the national
media machine spawned considerable concern among several health care groups that the cooperative effort might violate
federal antitrust laws for collusion and price fixing among competitors.