Industrials archive- Page 2 of 2

Cintas/UniFirst: Cintas Hires Trump-Linked Miller Strategies for Merger Lobbying

Cintas (CTAS) has hired Trump-connected lobbying firm Miller Strategies to navigate antitrust scrutiny of its proposed $5.5 billion acquisition of uniform rental rival UniFirst (UNF), according to newly filed federal...

May 22, 2026 Read Now >

The European Antitrust Agenda: Merger Guidelines Offer Clarity to Startup Buyers and Consider Workers’ Rights

Welcome to The European Antitrust Agenda, brought to you by Europe Executive Editor Javier Espinoza and Senior Correspondents Lydia O’Neal, Barbara Pianese, Joanna Sopinska and Catherine Stupp. This week, we look at the leaked draft of the EU’s forthcoming merger guidelines. A boon...

Apr 28, 2026 Read Now >

Next Head of EU Competition Watchdog Faces Souring U.S. Relations, Telecoms’ Consolidation Push

The frontrunner to head the European Commission’s competition watchdog, a nearly three-decade veteran of the EU executive, will have to perform some tricky balancing acts if he ultimately takes the helm – from conflicting views of how the bloc should achieve “competitiveness” to...

Apr 03, 2026 Read Now >

Tech/Media/Telecom Weekly: Profit Boom for Memory Chip Oligopoly Set to Continue in Short Term as Sources in National Security Community Say Policymakers are Unlikely to Soften Stance Toward Chinese Memory Chip Companies

The TMT Weekly is a forward-looking tipsheet that covers tech policy across The Capitol Forum’s U.S. policy coverage universe, from Congress to the Courts. In this edition: National Security Outlook: Profit boom for memory chip oligopoly set to continue in short term: Sources in...

Feb 25, 2026 Read Now >

EU Likely to Publish Industrial Accelerator Act Next Week Despite Internal Divisions, Sources Say

The European Commission is expected to proceed next week with the publication of its Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), despite significant internal resistance, according to three people familiar with the matter. The proposal, drafted by the commission’s industry and internal market...

Feb 20, 2026 Read Now >

SoftBank/DigitalBridge: Deal Could Test Treasury’s Fast-Track Pilot Program for U.S. Allies

Japan’s SoftBank Group (TSE:9984) has filed its proposed $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), according to sources familiar with the matter, setting up what could be an early test of a Treasury...

Jan 26, 2026 Read Now >

Congressional Appropriations Bill Directs FTC to Submit Reports Detailing Competition in Retail, Pharmacy, Grocery, and Fire Trucks

The latest funding package for the FTC directs the agency to submit reports to Congress on retail competition in the food, pharmacy and grocery sectors as well as consolidation in the fire truck market. Those requests come...

Jan 13, 2026 Read Now >

EU Commission Set to Reject Dumping Complaint Against Chinese Steel Imports

In an unusual move, the European Commission is planning to reject a dumping complaint against Chinese imports of alloy tool steel, according to a note published in its documents register. Trade lawyers working on similar cases, speaking to The Capitol Forum on condition of anonymity, said...

Jan 05, 2026 Read Now >

Boeing/Spirit Aerosystems: FTC Leans Toward Clearing Deal Subject to Behavioral Remedies; DOD’s Final Views Still Pending

The FTC is leaning toward clearing Boeing’s (BA) proposed $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems (SPR) with behavioral remedies to ensure the buyer’s military contractor rivals would retain post-merger access to Spirit’s aircraft parts, sources familiar with the matter said....

Nov 14, 2025 Read Now >

LiveRamp: Data Broker Distances Itself From Sensitive Consumer ‘Segments’ in Response to Privacy Class-Action Complaint

LiveRamp (RAMP) tried to distance itself from sensitive audience “segments” sold on its Data Marketplace in a recent response to an amended data privacy class-action complaint against the company, after a federal judge ruled last month that the case could proceed. LiveRamp repeatedly...

Aug 20, 2025 Read Now >

American Axle/Dowlais: SAMR Likely to Closely Examine Deal’s Impact on Auto Parts Supply Chain and Joint Ventures

American Axle and Manufacturing’s (AXL) $1.16 billion pound ($1.44 billion) bid for London-listed Dowlais (LON: DWL) will likely face rigorous scrutiny from competition regulators in China, a key automotive market, lawyers and industry experts...

Jul 29, 2025 Read Now >

Merger Monthly: After Novel Omnicom/Interpublic, HPE/Juniper Remedies, is Everything Settleable?; Outlook for Key Transactions Including Getty/Shutterstock, Mars/Kellanova, and UnitedHealth/Amedisys

In the months after Inauguration Day, the Trump administration’s merger policy appeared to be slowly but surely rounding into form: To wit, meaningful continuity from the Biden administration (retaining the 2023 Merger Guidelines and updated HSR Form), coupled with substantive pull back...

Jul 10, 2025 Read Now >

BlackRock/Allete: PE Firm’s Attempted Utility Takeover Generates Opposition in Minnesota

A $6.2 billion deal that would hand BlackRock (BLK) control of Allete’s (ALE) Minnesota Power, the second-largest electric utility in the state, has prompted concerns that the private equity giant’s drive for returns would lead to higher rates, and less reliable and safe...

Jun 16, 2025 Read Now >

Mars/Kellanova Faces Key EU State-of-Play Meeting This Week, Sources Say

Representatives for Mars and Kellanova (K) are set to meet with European Commission officials this week for a critical discussion that could help the enforcer decide whether to clear the companies’ $36 billion proposed merger in phase 1 or push it to an in-depth investigation, according...

Jun 10, 2025 Read Now >

The European Antitrust Agenda: EC Appetite Grows for In-Depth Probes; EU Courts to Hear Major Big Tech Appeals

Brussels hungry for phase 2 reviews. With just one in-depth merger investigation opened so far this year, the European Commission is signaling a renewed appetite for phase 2 investigations, according to sources familiar with the commission’s thinking. “The bar is very low” to...

Jun 03, 2025 Read Now >

USTR Fees on Chinese Ships Likely to Lead to Increase in Orders for Korean, Japanese, and European Shipbuilders, Experts Say; Shipping Industry Cartel Could Raise Prices, Increase Profits

New fees on Chinese ships proposed by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) are likely to raise freight prices but are unlikely to generate significant revenue as companies will have multiple strategies available to avoid the fees, according to experts and industry members. ...

Jun 03, 2025 Read Now >

Ametek/Faro: Faro Engaged Advisor to Explore Sale in January, Months After Announcing Plans to Sunset Overlap Laser Projector Line, Proxy Filing Shows

Faro Technologies in a securities filing Friday disclosed that it first engaged an investment bank to explore a sale in January—a timeline that could bolster arguments that its pending laser projector market exit isn’t an attempt to avoid U.S. antitrust scrutiny of its proposed $920...

Jun 02, 2025 Read Now >

Ametek/Faro: Target’s Pending Market Exit Poised to Complicate U.S. Antitrust Analysis of Deal to Combine Close 3D Laser Projection Competitors

Industrial giant Ametek’s proposed $920 million acquisition of Faro Technologies would unite two companies whose 3D laser projectors have competed closely over the past decade for use in a host of complex industrial applications, industry sources told The Capitol...

May 23, 2025 Read Now >

Mars/Kellanova: EC Taking Retailer Concerns Seriously in Deal Review, Sources Say

The European Commission is taking seriously the concerns of retailers about the bargaining power of Mars following its proposed $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova (K), as the agency kicks off its phase 1 investigation of the transaction, sources close to the matter told The Capitol...

May 19, 2025 Read Now >

The Asia Antitrust Agenda: SAMR Fines Pharma Suppliers for Price-Fixing; ACCC Kicks Off Omnicom/IPG Review; China’s Regulators Warn Food-Delivery Platforms Over Competition Concerns; Indian Supreme Court Issues Landmark Ruling in Abuse of Dominance Case

SAMR fines four pharmaceutical suppliers 354 million yuan for price-fixing. The Tianjin branch of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced on May 9 that it had levied a total of 354 million yuan ($49 million) in penalties on four pharmaceutical suppliers for...

May 19, 2025 Read Now >

Lenovo, NTT Data, Thales Could Face Closer Scrutiny Under New DOD Regulations, Boosting Fortunes for Domestic Government Contractors

Foreign-owned firms that are U.S. government contractors such as Chinese tech multinational Lenovo Group (HKEX: 0992), NTT Data Group (TSE: 9613) and Thales (ENX: HO) are likely to face heightened scrutiny under new Department of Defense (DOD) regulations. This regulatory framework will...

May 02, 2025 Read Now >

LiveRamp: Marketplace Sells Hundreds of Child-Related Datasets as State Laws, FTC Move to Protect Kids’ Personal Information

Hundreds of audience “segments” sold on data broker LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.’s (RAMP) Data Marketplace offer advertisers the ability to target households based on the presence of children and teens—in some cases relying on potentially sensitive information like individuals’...

May 01, 2025 Read Now >

Roper Technologies’ Strata’s Information Sharing Practices, Tools for Health Care Providers, Could Bring Antitrust Scrutiny

Health care providers can access rivals’ detailed output data and receive customized pricing recommendations through Roper Technologies subsidiary Strata Decision Technology’s software tools, according to company marketing materials reviewed by The Capitol...

May 01, 2025 Read Now >

PROS Holdings: Airline Price Optimization Platform Could Invite Antitrust Scrutiny, Private Lawsuits

Revenue management and pricing optimization platform PROS Holdings (PRO) could face legal scrutiny for its airline pricing solutions that, by replacing carriers’ independent competitive decision-making, opens the door for industry-wide coordination, a Capitol Forum investigation found....

Apr 24, 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...

Apr 09, 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 >

Nippon Steel/U.S. Steel: Impending Proxy Fight at U.S. Steel Threatens a Still-Tenuous Trump-Backed Deal

The Trump administration is unlikely to sign off on any restructured deal between U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) and Japan’s Nippon Steel (Tokyo: 5401) until an activist hedge fund’s high-stakes play to replace the American company’s leadership and board is resolved, a Capitol Forum analysis...

Mar 28, 2025 Read Now >

Herc Holdings/H&E Equipment Services: Competition from National, Regional Rivals, Low Entry Barriers Could Constrain Post-Merger Price Increases, Industry Sources Say; Parties’ Noncompetes, Information Sharing May Attract Agency Questions

If Herc Holdings (HRI) completes its proposed $5.3 billion acquisition of rival H&E Equipment Services (HEES), construction companies around the country should still have plenty of viable options for renting heavy equipment, according to industry sources and a Capitol Forum...

Mar 21, 2025 Read Now >

Some EU Member States Weigh Urging Retaliatory Measures Against U.S. Tariffs, Raising Risks for American M&As on Continent

Some European Union member states are considering whether to urge the European Commission to invoke a powerful new trade tool in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reinstatement this month of 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, sources familiar with the matter said. The...

Feb 24, 2025 Read Now >

A Market for Training Data and No Intermediate Copying Defense: How the Reuters v Ross Summary Judgment Could Affect Generative AI Copyright Lawsuits

The recent summary judgment ruling in the first-ever AI training data copyright lawsuit may give courts some guidance on how to consider generative AI copyright cases. If so, that’s good news for copyright holders. In Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence, Judge Stephanos Bibas, a Third...

Feb 19, 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 >

Trucking Advocacy Groups Send Letter to FTC Alleging Price Fixing and Anticompetitive Behavior from Freight Brokers

Four trucking advocacy organizations sent a letter to the FTC, alleging that the behavior of freight brokers—the middlemen connecting truckers, or carriers, with the shippers who want to hire them to transport a load—is anticompetitive and contributing to unfair labor...

Nov 06, 2024 Read Now >

Fair Isaac Corporation: Risk of Government Intervention Appears to Have Emboldened Company to Increase Price on Mortgage Industry; New Policy Could Further Entrench Company’s Hold on the Industry

After several recent price hikes on credit scores used in the mortgage lending business, the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is rumored to be readying yet another increase at the start of 2025—a move that will again leave customers with no recourse because of the entrenched nature of the...

Oct 23, 2024 Read Now >

Blue Bird Corp.: Federal Funding for EV Busses Rejected by School Districts After Program Changes; EPA Aims to Lower Bus Prices Could Hurt Company Bottom Line

A federal program that helps school districts swap diesel buses for electric or propane-powered replacements has been a boon to school bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corp. (BLBD), providing generous subsidies to soften the sticker shock that might have otherwise steered districts away from...

Oct 02, 2024 Read Now >

Alaska/Hawaiian: DOT, States Seek Remedies as Department Considers Merger Application

The Department of Transportation and some states are seeking remedies from Alaska Airlines (ALK) in its bid for Hawaiian Airlines (HA) as the carriers submit to DOT’s review of their $1.9 billion deal, sources familiar with the matter...

Aug 28, 2024 Read Now >

Despite a Weakened Macron, His Fight for European ‘Champions’ Vs. Competition Enforcement Isn’t Going Anywhere, Experts Say

Recent elections in France have weakened Emmanuel Macron in Paris and Brussels. But the push by the French president and other senior European politicians for less aggressive European Union competition enforcement to favor companies in the region over foreign rivals will remain strong,...

Jul 23, 2024 Read Now >

Uber/Foodpanda: Taiwanese Regulator Meets With Restaurant Operators, Drivers Amid Concerns About Worse Service, Lower Pay

In examining Uber Technologies’ (UBER) proposed acquisition of Delivery Hero’s (DHER) Foodpanda business, Taiwan’s competition regulator met this week with industry participants such as restaurant chain operators and drivers, who have complained about the $950 million deal leading...

Jun 21, 2024 Read Now >

WillScot/McGrath: Buyer Has Pursued Aggressive Roll-Up Strategy, Eliminating Competition and Raising Prices

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings (WSC) has pursued an aggressive seven-year roll-up strategy in the office trailer and portable storage business, largely avoiding antitrust scrutiny while completing an eye-popping 21 acquisitions in the last two years alone. It’s now trying to buy what...

Apr 19, 2024 Read Now >

Absent General Dynamics Improvements, Pentagon Forecasts Year-Long Delay to Columbia-class Nuclear Submarine Program

The Navy is projecting a year-long delay to its No. 1 acquisition program, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine fleet, unless prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat (GD) makes significant performance improvements, two sources told The Capitol...

Mar 11, 2024 Read Now >

IAG/Air Europa: EC Review of Airline Merger Has Scrutinized Over 90 Overlapping Flight Routes

The European Commission has been examining over 90 passenger routes served by both International Airlines Group (IAG) and Air Europa, a Spanish carrier that IAG is attempting to purchase for the second time in five years, according to sources familiar with the...

Mar 05, 2024 Read Now >

Evolv Technology: Weapons Detection Company Scrubs Online Marketing Materials in Midst of FTC, SEC Probes

Evolv Technology (EVLV), which has sold itself to customers and investors as a “frictionless” artificial intelligence weapons detection system capable of screening people 10 times faster than conventional metal detectors, recently made several changes to its online marketing...

Mar 01, 2024 Read Now >

The Antitrust Agenda: Capital One/Discover Deal Announced as CFPB, Durbin Scrutinize Credit Card Industry and DOJ Investigation of Visa Continues

DOJ investigation of Visa has recently taken back seat to Apple, Live Nation probes. DOJ has prioritized its monopolization investigation of Apple (AAPL) and is expected to file suit soon. The department is on track to follow that litigation with a suit against Live Nation Entertainment...

Feb 20, 2024 Read Now >

Alaska/Hawaiian: JetBlue Decision Provides Roadmap for Key Questions Raised by Latest Industry Deal

The regulatory path grew riskier for Alaska Airlines’ (ALK) proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines (HA) after DOJ won the JetBlue/Spirit case last week, antitrust and airline experts told The Capitol Forum. In enjoining JetBlue Airways’ (JBLU) $3.8 billion attempted...

Jan 23, 2024 Read Now >

JetBlue/Spirit: Buyer’s Entry into Market Doesn’t Lower Fares as Much as ULCCs Do, Frontier CEO Says

The antitrust trial on DOJ’s suit to block JetBlue Airways (JBLU) $3.8 billion bid for Spirit Airlines (SAVE) entered its third week with Frontier Airlines (ULCC) CEO Barry Biffle asserting today that the “JetBlue Effect” tends not to “drop the fare as much” as ultra-low cost...

Nov 14, 2023 Read Now >

Flowserve/Velan: France’s Rejection of Deal Reveals Sensitive Assets Remain Off Limits, Even to Allies

France’s rejection of U.S.-based Flowserve’s (FLS) proposed $245 million purchase of Canadian industrial valve manufacturer Velan (TSX: VLN) last month should serve as a warning to dealmakers regarding the limits of trust between even longstanding allies, trade and national security...

Nov 02, 2023 Read Now >

Evolv Technology: Claims Made in Connection With Sales of Weapons Detection Systems Appear to Overstate Capabilities, Potentially Exposing Company to FTC Action

Security screening company Evolv Technology (EVLV) may be overstating the capabilities of its walk-through metal detectors, which the company markets as faster and smarter than competitors—claims that have been called into question by customers and an industry research group, raising...

Sep 22, 2023 Read Now >

Enbridge/Dominion: Vertical Power Concerns Related to Dominion’s Control Over Contract Terms Could Attract FTC Scrutiny

In its acquisition of utility company Dominion (D), Enbridge (ENB), a major pipeline operator, could use Dominion’s control over contracts between buyers and sellers of natural gas in Ohio to favor its own interstate pipelines, according to a Capitol Forum analysis. Enbridge currently...

Sep 22, 2023 Read Now >

AAON: Sales Concentration with Texas AirSystems and Meriton Raises Red Flags, Potentially Requiring Additional Disclosures

AAON Inc. (AAON), a large manufacturer of ventilation and air conditioning equipment for both commercial and residential use, discloses in its SEC filings that its customer Texas AirSystems LLC accounted for “more than 10% or more of its sales during 2022, 2021 and 2020” and accounted...

Aug 24, 2023 Read Now >

Prospects Brighten for Broadcom/VMware, ICE/Black Knight, L3Harris/Aerojet Following Recent Developments

The prospects for Broadcom’s (AVGO) proposed VMware (VMW) buyout, Intercontinental Exchange’s (ICE) attempted Black Knight (BKI) purchase and L3Harris Technologies’ (LHX) bid for Aerojet Rocketdyne have distinctly improved due to a series of recent, unrelated developments, according...

Jul 20, 2023 Read Now >

Assa Abloy/Spectrum Brands: Judge Grilled DOJ Litigator Over ‘Litigating the Fix’ Legal Standard; Case Still Comes Down to the Divestiture

At yesterday’s marathon hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes grilled DOJ litigator, Matthew Huppert, over the appropriate legal framework to apply to merger challenges involving a divestiture. Judge Reyes also indicated that DOJ’s challenge to Assa Abloy’s (ASSA-B:SS) bid for...

Mar 30, 2023 Read Now >

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