Consumer Discretionary archive- Page 2 of 2

Focus Media/Xinchao Media: Elevator Advertising Giant’s Planned Takeover of Rival Could Face Close SAMR Scrutiny

Shanghai display advertising giant Focus Media Group’s proposed $1.3 billion takeover of rival Xinchao Media Group, which would expand the buyer’s Chinese empire for ads posted in elevators, will face close scrutiny from China’s antitrust authority, legal practitioners and industry...

Apr 30, 2025 Read Now >

Hewlett Packard Enterprise/Juniper Networks: Pitts’ Skepticism About Corporate Power in Some Cases Could Favor DOJ, But Judge Also Has Sided With Tech Giants

U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts, who’s presiding over DOJ’s challenge to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s proposed Juniper Networks buyout, has had little experience with antitrust cases since he reached the federal bench in 2023 and in his prior position as a public-interest...

Apr 25, 2025 Read Now >

LiveRamp: Company Hosts Marketplace Selling Datasets that Target Millions of Americans Based on Sensitive Information, Military Status

Data broker LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (RAMP) operates a vast digital marketplace that exchanges the personal information of hundreds of millions of individuals grouped into highly specific audience “segments”—many of which include potentially sensitive information denoting everything...

Apr 08, 2025 Read Now >

The Asia Antitrust Agenda: SAMR Head Outlines Increased Platform Regulation; Hong Kong Regulator Announces a First in Its Criminal Convictions; Australia Issues Guidance on Merger Reform Transition; Taiwan, U.S. to Scrutinize ASMedia/Techpoint

The Asia Antitrust Agenda is a biweekly column showcasing key regulatory developments in the region. This week, The Capitol Forum looks at comments from head of SAMR Luo Wen on plans to increase oversight of digital platforms this year, guidance published by the Australian Competition and...

Mar 10, 2025 Read Now >

Sportradar: Sports Data Provider Also Hit with Antitrust Lawsuit Alleging Illegal Tying of Exclusive League Data with In-House Betting Technology

PANDA Interactive, a sports betting technology platform, also amended its patent infringement lawsuit against Sportradar to include antitrust allegations related to the tying of exclusive official real-time sports data with allegedly unnecessary betting app...

Mar 06, 2025 Read Now >

U.S. Launches Trade War Against Canada, China and Mexico

The Trump Administration on Tuesday raised tariffs on its three largest trading partners—Mexico, China and Canada—and in doing so, launched America’s broadest and most consequential trade salvo since the Great...

Mar 04, 2025 Read Now >

The Asia Antitrust Agenda: KTFC Balances Big Tech Concerns Against Pressures to Uphold U.S. Relationship; China Eases FDI Rules; Taiwan Issues Environmental Guidelines; Australia Releases Airline Competition Report

This is the inaugural edition of The Asia Antitrust Agenda, a biweekly column showcasing key regulatory developments in the region. KFTC juggles platform regulations, potential U.S. trade conflict. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) will closely engage with the U.S. government over...

Feb 24, 2025 Read Now >

U.S. tariffs on Chinese plastic manufacturers

China Appears to Reverse Course and Champion AI Development With Few Restrictions

After leading global efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, China appears to be reversing course, stressing the need to encourage innovation and advances in the vital...

Feb 20, 2025 Read Now >

Xponential Fitness: Studio Growth in Club Pilates, StretchLab Brands, Others Continue to Show Stagnation and Low Studio Utilization

Club Pilates and StretchLab, the two consistent growth brands within the Xponential Fitness (XPOF) portfolio of boutique fitness studio franchises, entered 2025 with more studios than they had at the start of December, while the rest of the company’s brands showed stagnation or...

Jan 07, 2025 Read Now >

RB Global’s Rouse Services Could Face Antitrust Scrutiny Over Information Sharing as Enforcers Target Third-Party Benchmarking

RB Global (RBA) subsidiary Rouse Services, which provides benchmarking and appraisals to the construction equipment rental industry, could be at risk of regulatory scrutiny as U.S. antitrust regulators target algorithmic intermediaries across the economy. Rouse’s business model...

Dec 23, 2024 Read Now >

Labor Thursday: FTC Cracks Down on Building Services Contractor’s No-Hire Agreement; Union Worker Charges Kroger and Albertsons with Colluding During Strike; Apple’s Employee Surveillance Under Fire; Amazon Contractors Win Preliminary Ruling to Begin Organizing, Amazon to Appeal; Aveanna Healthcare Faces Nurse Wage Suit

FTC orders building services contractor to cease no-hire agreement, saying Sherman Act and FTC Act violations caused harm to workers. The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Guardian Service Industries Inc., a building services contractor with over 2800 employees, to stop...

Dec 05, 2024 Read Now >

Labor Thursday: Republican Control of NLRB Likely to Hinder Teamsters’ Amazon Driver Union Push; UnitedHealth/Amedisys Deal Would Harm Nurses, DOJ Says; GOP Win a Boon for NCAA in Labor and Antitrust Battles Over Athlete Pay, Employment Status

Efforts to organize Amazon delivery drivers, and broader unionization campaigns, will face headwinds from the National Labor Relations Board under a Trump Administration. Some of the most consequential impacts of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office will be on a federal...

Nov 14, 2024 Read Now >

Tapestry/Capri: In Closing Arguments, FTC Points to Paper Trail Showing Intense Head-to-Head Competition While Defense Attacks Agency’s Economic Analysis

On the final day of arguments in the FTC’s effort to block the acquisition of American fashion house operator Capri (CPRI) by rival Tapestry (TPR), agency attorneys emphasized how the $8.5 billion deal could harm working- and middle-class women who buy so-called accessible-luxury...

Sep 30, 2024 Read Now >

JIC/Shinko: SAMR Review Could Delay Tender Offer for Computer Chip Components and Packaging Maker

A review by China’s antitrust regulator could delay the government-backed Japan Investment Corporation’s (JIC) anticipated $4.7 billion tender offer for computer chip packaging and components maker Shinko Electric Industries (TSE: 6967), sources familiar with the matter...

Aug 20, 2024 Read Now >

Six Flags/Cedar Fair: DOJ Leaning Toward Clearing Amusement Park Merger Unconditionally

DOJ is leaning toward clearing unconditionally Six Flags Entertainment (SIX) and Cedar Fair’s (FUN) proposed $8 billion merger of equals, according to sources familiar with the...

Jun 21, 2024 Read Now >

IBM/HashiCorp: FTC Staff Probing Potential for Reduced Competition, Innovation in Cloud Software, Encryption Tools

FTC staff investigating IBM’s (IBM) proposed acquisition of HashiCorp (HCP) is asking industry participants whether customers of HashiCorp’s multi-cloud and encryption management software could switch to viable alternatives after the merger if they so desired, and whether the $6.4...

Jun 20, 2024 Read Now >

Broadcom’s VMware Unit Caught Up in French Litigation Brought by 3 Customers Over Cloud License Changes

Three French companies—Oxya, Thales (EUF: HO) and Saint-Gobain Group (EUF: SGO)—are pursuing lawsuits against Broadcom’s (AVGO) subsidiary VMWare for allegedly breaching contract law in France by revamping its cloud software’s licensing...

Jun 14, 2024 Read Now >

FDJ/Kindred Group: Gambling Companies Urge French Competition Enforcer to Order Divestiture

French lottery operator Française des Jeux’s (EUF: FDJ) proposed buyout of online gaming company Kindred Group (STO: KIND) for 27.95 billion Swedish kronor ($2.65 billion) is being challenged by multiple gambling operators, who are urging the French competition regulator to reject the...

Jun 14, 2024 Read Now >

War in the Aisles: Monopolies Across the Grocery Supply Chain Squeeze Consumers and Small-Business Owners Alike, Big Data will Only Entrench Those Dynamics Further

This article is published in collaboration with The American Prospect. You’ve grabbed a shopping cart, walked through the sliding doors, and checked your list for the week. Keep it simple—Monday, spaghetti and meatballs. Tuesday, of course, is for tacos. Wednesday, how about a stew....

Jun 12, 2024 Read Now >

Tapestry/Capri: Labor Concern Part of Suit FTC Considering Against Handbag Deal

In leaning toward suing to block Tapestry’s (TPR) proposed buyout of Capri (CPRI), the agency sees the $8.5 deal as unacceptably shrinking the number of companies that employ workers for the handbag makers, sources familiar with the matter...

Apr 15, 2024 Read Now >

Tapestry/Capri: FTC Leaning Toward Suit, Focusing on Handbag Makers’ Close Competition

The FTC is leaning toward a lawsuit to block Tapestry’s (TPR) proposed $8.5 billion acquisition of handbag manufacturing rival Capri (CPRI), sources familiar with the matter...

Apr 12, 2024 Read Now >

The Antitrust Agenda: Inside the Team Supporting New FTC Commissioner Holyoak; Former AAG Baer Discusses Importance of Executive Order on Competition; Closer Look at Groups Tied to Anti-Robinson-Patman Act Ads; Major Meat Processors Accused of Fixing Pork Prices

New FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak hires attorney-advisers. Melissa Holyoak has chosen Douglas Geho, Elisa Jillson and Chris Mufarrige to fill out her team at the FTC. Mufarrige will serve as her chief of staff, he announced in a LinkedIn post. Geho, chief antitrust counsel on the House...

Apr 08, 2024 Read Now >

Amex GBT/CWT: Qatari Stake Could Draw CFIUS’s Attention to Proposed Acquisition of Travel Service Used by U.S. Military

American Express Global Business Travel’s (GBTG) proposed $570 million acquisition of CWT, which operates a service that U.S. military personnel and other federal officials use to arrange trips, could raise red flags over the Qatari government’s stake in the deal, national security...

Apr 03, 2024 Read Now >

Chinese Academics Recommend AI Act Should Give Government Power to Remove Questionable Technology, Revoke Violating Companies’ Licenses

A new Chinese law regulating artificial intelligence should give the government the power to remove questionable uses of AI and revoke the licenses of companies that violate the legislation, according to a first draft of academics’ recommendations reviewed by The Capitol...

Mar 26, 2024 Read Now >

Haier Smart Home/Carrier Global: Commercial Refrigeration Transaction Triggers European Commission FSR Filing

Chinese home appliance supplier Haier Smart Home’s (HK:6690) proposed $640 million acquisition of Carrier Global’s (CARR) commercial refrigeration business requires a filing under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) in Europe, according to sources familiar with the...

Mar 18, 2024 Read Now >

Six Flags/Cedar Fair: Elimination of Close Competition in 3 Metropolitan Areas Likely Focus of DOJ Review

Six Flags Entertainment (SIX) and Cedar Fair’s (FUN) proposed “merger of equals” would eliminate close competition between the theme park operators in three metropolitan areas—Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area—an outcome that’s the likely focus of...

Mar 05, 2024 Read Now >

Apple Representatives Meet with DOJ’s Kanter, Signaling Long-Anticipated Lawsuit

Lawyers for Apple (AAPL) met yesterday with DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter, indicating that a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against the company could be filed as soon as early next week, according to two sources familiar with the...

Feb 23, 2024 Read Now >

Antitrust Tech Tuesday: Dems Line Up to Support USTR; Even More Senators Support KOSA; FTC Protects Consumers from Scams, Proposes Additional Protections for AI-Generated Impersonations; DOJ Set to Investigate Sports Streaming Platform; Open Markets Institute Webinar on Journalism and Tech; FTC v. Amazon Trial Date

Democratic representatives in support of USTR digital trade policy. A group of 87 House Democrats led by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to the Biden administration on February 13 announcing their support for U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s...

Feb 20, 2024 Read Now >

The European Antitrust Agenda: Vestager Backs Guersent in Competition ‘Side Dish’ Debate; Cardell Urges Merging Businesses to Forego Lobbying; EC Accuses Greek Electric Company of Possible Predatory Pricing

Greek electricity provider suspected of predatory pricing. Athens-based Public Power Corporation (PPC) may have violated EU antitrust rules when it sold wholesale electricity below cost, potentially pushing out rival generator companies, according to preliminary findings of a years-long...

Feb 12, 2024 Read Now >

FTC v. Amazon: Experts See Failure of Amazon Rival Jet.com as Valuable to Agency’s Case

The FTC’s recently unredacted Amazon (AMZN) antitrust complaint revealed the name of the company—rival discount e-commerce website Jet.com—that the agency said the tech giant ran out of business by wielding its dominance in online retail. “Amazon predicted that Jet’s business...

Dec 06, 2023 Read Now >

EC’s Objections to Amazon/iRobot and Adobe/Figma Could See Deals Face Contrasting Fates

The European Commission’s objections to Amazon’s (AMZN) pending $1.4 billion acquisition of iRobot (IRBT) and Adobe’s (ADBE) $20 billion plan to buy Figma could set the transactions on vastly different paths, according to an analysis by The Capitol Forum. While the...

Dec 06, 2023 Read Now >

Tapestry/Capri: Labor Force Issues Could Trigger U.S. Antitrust Enforcer Questions, Capitol Forum Analysis Shows

Tapestry’s (TPR) proposed Capri Holdings (CPR) buyout has generated questions among investors about the $8.5 billion deal’s impact on prices for upscale handbags and other fashion accessories. But the transaction’s effect on those who help produce and sell these products might...

Oct 06, 2023 Read Now >

The Antitrust Agenda: Amazon Lawsuit Sends Shockwave Through Antitrust Community; Senator Grassley Welcomes DOJ Lawsuit vs. Agri Stats

The Antitrust Agenda: Amazon Lawsuit Sends Shockwave Through Antitrust Community; Senator Grassley Welcomes DOJ Lawsuit vs. Agri Stats The FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon (AMZN) continues to send a shockwave through the antitrust community. The lawsuit’s significant impact...

Oct 02, 2023 Read Now >

In Landmark Amazon Case, FTC Narrows Focus to Elevate Chances of Winning

The FTC finally filed its landmark antitrust lawsuit against Amazon (AMZN), and the three FTC Commissioners and 17 states joining the FTC opted in favor of a narrow lawsuit focused on price—particularly how Amazon raises prices on customers across the internet and increases costs to...

Sep 26, 2023 Read Now >

The European Antitrust Agenda: Tech Firms Get Ready for EU’s DMA Designations; Microsoft Responds to EU Probe by Unbundling Teams from Office; UK Court Backs CMA in Bake-At-Home Goods Merger Block

Major tech companies prepare for Digital Markets Act designations. The European Commission is set to announce the first round of digital “gatekeepers” on Wednesday. Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), ByteDance, Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT) and Samsung notified the agency...

Sep 05, 2023 Read Now >

Amazon/iRobot: Deal Provides Opportunity for Enforcers to Develop ‘Ecosystem’ Theory of Harm

Amazon’s (AMZN) proposed $1.7 billion iRobot (IRBT) acquisition is providing European enforcers an opportunity to further develop a 21st century economic theory of harm created with tech platforms in mind. In announcing its phase 2 in-depth investigation of Amazon/iRobot last month, the...

Aug 02, 2023 Read Now >

Amazon/iRobot, Thoma Bravo/ForgeRock, Globus/NuVasive May Trigger Tripwires in Draft Merger Guidelines

U.S. antitrust enforcers could target Amazon’s (AMZN) planned $1.7 billion iRobot (IRBT) buyout, Thoma Bravo’s $2.3 billion ForgeRock (FORG) bid and Globus Medical’s proposed $3.1 billion NuVasive (NUVA) tie-up, according to a Capitol Forum analysis of draft merger guidelines...

Jul 19, 2023 Read Now >

FTC Could be Setting Up Coke and Pepsi as the Modern Textbook Cases of the Robinson-Patman Act, as the Agency Begins its Revival of the Long-Dormant Law

Experts say the FTC’s Robinson-Patman Act investigation into Coke (COKE) and Pepsi (PEP) could make for a shrewd first enforcement action, given the clear evidence of price discrimination by big soda against small retailers. The FTC is renewing enforcement of the 1936 anti-chain store...

Jun 29, 2023 Read Now >

The Beauty Health Company: Syndeo Defects, Company Policies Frustrate Machine Users

The Beauty Health Company (SKIN), maker of the HydraFacial skincare device and products, has clamped down on chatter among frustrated estheticians who recently took to a Facebook group page to voice concerns about defective HydraFacial machines and to discuss potential competitor...

Apr 13, 2023 Read Now >

Xponential: Sales Pitch to Some Former Franchisees May Have Violated Franchise Disclosure Rules

Fitness franchisor Xponential (XPOF) in some cases appears to provide financial projections as part of its sales pitch to prospective franchisees beyond those contained in its franchise disclosure documents—a potential violation of federal franchise rules—according to interviews and...

Mar 10, 2023 Read Now >

Federal Reserve Taps Amazon for New Payments Project; Lawmakers Calls for Scrutiny

The Federal Reserve has tapped Amazon (AMZN) to provide data storage for an ambitious new payment system, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move could increase political pressure to put the tech giant under the watch of U.S. financial system regulators. The new...

Feb 24, 2023 Read Now >

The Beauty Health Company: Syndeo Problems Persist After Rushed Rollout of Machine

Almost one year since The Beauty Health Company (SKIN) rolled out its new RFID-enabled facial machine, Syndeo, problems with the device that were previously reported by The Capitol Forum persist and appear to be getting worse. The Capitol Forum has learned that facialists who bought the...

Feb 17, 2023 Read Now >

Xponential: Some Franchisees Say They Struggle to Make Business Model Work at Franchised Locations; Company Potentially Obfuscates Franchise Failure Rate in Disclosure Documents

Fitness franchisor Xponential (XPOF), whose brands include Club Pilates, Pure Barre and Cycle Bar, touts that it has never had a studio go out of business, even in the midst of pandemic restrictions that temporarily shut down exercise facilities and scared customers away from gyms. The...

Feb 15, 2023 Read Now >

Amazon Should Face Firm UK Antitrust Action as EC Seeks to Settle Retail Cases, Critics Say

UK competition enforcers investigating how Amazon (AMZN) treats rival retailers should be tougher than the European Commission has been in reining in the company’s dominance over e-commerce, two critics told The Capitol Forum. The EC and Amazon are expected to formalize a settlement...

Dec 15, 2022 Read Now >

Amazon/iRobot: CMA’s Threat to Transaction Looms Large in Europe 

Approval from the Competition and Markets Authority will likely be the biggest European regulatory hurdle for Amazon’s (AMZN) $1.7 billion plan to buy automated cleaning device maker iRobot (IRBT), sources have told The Capitol Forum.  In many ways, the deal is like Google’s...

Dec 06, 2022 Read Now >

The Beauty Health Company: Customers, Former Employees Challenge Company’s Explanation for Slow Growth in Consumables Sales

The Beauty Health Company (SKIN) recently told investors that slow growth in sales of the solutions and serums used in its trademark HydraFacial treatments was due to company giveaways of product with sales of its new Syndeo devices, saying device purchasers are given enough product to...

Nov 23, 2022 Read Now >

Amazon and Private Equity Firm Apollo Grab Power in U.S. Air Cargo Industry; TSA Defers Safety Authority to Amazon’s Unregulated Airline

Amazon and Apollo are rolling up power in the air cargo market. In recent years, Amazon (AMZN) acquired equity and warrants in Atlas Air (AAWW) and equity and warrants at ATSG (ATSG)— two of the largest U.S. independent air cargo carriers, according to an analysis by The Capitol Forum...

Nov 17, 2022 Read Now >

The Beauty Health Company: Company Faces Undisclosed Competition for Consumable Serums; Company’s Allegedly Anticompetitive Practices Face Tying Allegations in Court, Nominative Fair Use Arguments from Spas

The Beauty Health Company (SKIN) produces devices and serums for facial treatments at spas and dermatology clinics, with the Hydrafacial system being its flagship brand. While the company commands a high price for the Hydrafacial system and equipment, the consumable serums, boosters, and...

Oct 05, 2022 Read Now >

FleetCor: FTC’s Proposed Order Seeks to Ban Company’s Fee Practices

The FTC is seeking a court order for permanent injunction and other relief against FleetCor (FLT) and its CEO Ronald Clarke that would prohibit some of the practices the company has relied on to generate hundreds of millions in improper fee revenue from small businesses that use its fuel...

Sep 22, 2022 Read Now >

Adtalem Global Education: Department of Education Initiates DeVry Recoupment Action; Company Likely on Hook for Borrower Defense Claims

The Department of Education announced that yesterday it formally notified DeVry that the institution is liable to the Department for nearly $24 million for approved borrower defense claims, according to a press release. The notice is an initial demand that relates to DeVry Direct Loan...

Aug 16, 2022 Read Now >

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