US: FTC allows Amazon’s US$13.7b Whole Foods buy

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will allow Amazon.com, Inc. to continue its US$13.7 billion deal to acquire Whole Foods.

The FTC conducted an investigation to gauge whether the merger would decrease competition under federal regulations, Bruce Hoffman, acting director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement Wednesday. It ultimately decided not to pursue the matter further.

“The FTC conducted an investigation of this proposed acquisition to determine whether it substantially lessened competition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, or constituted an unfair method of competition under Section 5 of the FTC Act. Based on our investigation we have decided not to pursue this matter further. Of course, the FTC always has the ability to investigate anticompetitive conduct should such action be warranted.”

Full Content: Market Watch & Federal Trade Commission

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