Statement of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division on the Closing of Its Investigation of the Merger of FOX and Roku: justice.gov/opa/pr/stateme…

.@ASGWoodward issued the following statement today in connection with the Antitrust Division’s investigation into the acquisition of Cogentrix by Vistra:

“Electricity customers in Maine, New Hampshire, and across New England will benefit from continued competition to generate affordable electricity. As New Englanders turn on the heat for the coming winter season, it’s critical that consumers not bear the risks of higher electricity bills. The Division anticipates that Vistra’s divestitures will save consumers throughout New England tens of millions of dollars annually in electricity bills.”

🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/justice…

Antitrust Division Announces Successful Referrals in Two Local Asphalt Merger Investigations to State Attorneys General: justice.gov/opa/pr/antitru…

Justice Department Provides Update on Collaboration with State Attorneys General on Review of Local Mergers

“Principles of federalism guide that the Justice Department use its resources to investigate mergers with regional or national implications. However, the Department will sometimes exercise its discretion to investigate local transactions, including when there is an antitrust issue of national significance,” said @ASGWoodward. “When it comes to mergers of national importance, the Department will generally form its own views of the appropriate resolution of an investigation, although it may partner with state enforcers who offer to contribute distinctively to the investigation.”

🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/justice…

A former civilian U.S. Army official pleaded guilty today to participating in a bribery and major fraud scheme that corrupted the competitive process for a U.S. Army technology innovation lab in the Pacific.

“Fraud that deprives the U.S. military of free and fair competition s harms us all,” said @ASGWoodward. “Because of prosecutions like this, Americans can trust that the Department of War and its warfighters maintain the highest standards of integrity. We expect their contractors to do the same.”

Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/former-…

Contractor Pleads Guilty to Paying Kickbacks Related to U.S. Postal Service Facilities Repair Contracts

“Collusion that harms the U.S. Postal Service, and ultimately the American taxpayer, is illegal and will not be tolerated,” said @ASGWoodward. “This Department of Justice is g those who would cheat the U.S. government out of fair prices to line their own pockets, and in this prosecution, we have done just that.”

Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/contrac…

Statement of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division on the Closing of Its Investigation of Arrive AS’s Proposed Acquisition of Passport Labs Inc.

“The Antitrust Division is committed to protecting competition while also preserving the Department’s finite resources,” said approach to merger review serves those objectives. The Antitrust Division conducted a targeted review of the proposed transaction and has decided to close the investigation.”

🔗 justice.gov/opa/pr/stateme…

Justice Department and @USDA Reaffirm and Expand their Partnership to Protect Competition in Agricultural Inputs

The Justice Department is committed to vigorously investigating and bringing appropriate action to stop anticompetitive conduct that harms American famers and t.co/IVYudk2RYZ

1/3: Yesterday, the Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest expressing objection to the proposed settlements in the beef and pork processing plant worker antitrust class action. The Department requests the U.S. District Court for the District of CO to withhold settlement approval until the defendants agree to injunctive relief to prevent depression of plant worker wages.
 
“Fair and competitive wages can decrease employee turnover and improve productivity, reducing business costs and lowering prices for consumers. This is another reason why the Department of Justice continually works to ensure vigorous competition at every part of the supply chain.” -@ASGWoodward
 
🔗: justice.gov/atr/media/1463…

2/3: Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in agricultural industries or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov.

3/3: Information about anticompetitive practices in livestock and poultry markets can also be submitted to the USDA’s and Justice Department’s Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership at farmerfairness.gov.

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of giving a keynote address at the 53rd Annual Conference on International Antitrust Law and Policy, and Antitrust Economics Workshop hosted by @FordhamLawNYC, where I emphasized the significance of federalism in antitrust enforcement.

I will there: we at @TheJusticeDept and @JusticeATR take seriously our obligation to be the front-line national enforcer Congress designed us to be, and we take seriously our obligation to work as partners, not rivals, with the state attorneys general who share our desire to protect competition in every market across our Great Nation. That give and take is not a weakness in our system of antitrust federalism. It is the system working as Congress intended—imperfect, occasionally contentious, but still very much worth defending.

Read my full remarks here: justice.gov/opa/speech/ass…

🚨 Department of Justice Again Wins Substantial Relief Against Google: Remedies for Google’s Unlawful Monopolization to Help Restore Competition in Online Advertising Technology Markets

“The Court’s ruling in the Google ad tech case marks a significant victory for this Department’s efforts to protect and restore competition,” said @ASGWoodward. “We will continue to review the opinion to consider the Department’s options. Under @POTUS Trump’s and @AGToddBlanche’s leadership, we will never cease fighting for fair competition.”

🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/departm…

Justice Department Reaches Proposed Consent Decree with Pinnacle, One of America’s Largest Landlords, to Resolve Information Sharing and Algorithmic Coordination Claims

“This administration will not tolerate illegal actions by corporate landlords that inflate housing prices for odward. “The Department of Justice will fight for every American who is being taken advantage of by corporate greed.”

🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/justice…

Proud of @JusticeATR’s success in obtaining relief on behalf of the American people. The Department will continue to fight for fair competition. The timing of the Court’s order reflects the tradeoffs between immediate relief and remedies obtained through years of litigation.

The Antitrust Division is pleased that the court ordered substantial relief in the Google Ad Tech case. We are one step closer to restoring competition and bringing relief for the American people in online advertising markets. The Department is evaluating appropriate next steps.

🚨@JusticeATR has expanded its investigation to include 8 of the largest grocers when it comes to beef affordability. @ASGWoodward sent letters to the following regarding the recent increases in the retail price for beef:

-Kroger
-Publix
-Walmart
-Albertsons
-Aldi
-Ahold Delhaize USA
-Costco
-Amazon

Beef prices are a critical concern to Americans, and a priority for this Justice Department.

KKR Agrees to Pay Record $250M Penalty for Serial Violations of Federal Premerger Review Law: KKR Will Pay LARGEST-EVER Penalty for Repeatedly Violating the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act by Withholding and Altering Documents and Failing to Make Required Filings

“This historic $250 million civil penalty – more than 20 times any prior HSR penalty obtained by the DOJ – sends a powerful message: the Department is committed to vigorous enforcement of the Act,” said @ASGWoodward. “The Act’s requirements protect competition by giving the Justice Department an opportunity to investigate potentially unlawful transactions. Companies that disregard their legal obligations will face serious consequences.”

Read more: justice.gov/opa/pr/kkr-agr…

Jury Convicts Erosion Control Company, Executive, and Employee for Roles in $100M Price-Fixing Conspiracy: A Total of 7 Defendants Convicted of Price-Fixing Charges Affecting Publicly Funded Infrastructure Projects in Oklahoma

“Americans have a right to expect that taxpayer-funded contracts are awarded through fair and honest competition, not secret agreements among competitors,” said @ASGWoodward. “The prosecution of these criminals demonstrates the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting public funds, safeguarding the integrity of government procurement, and holding accountable those who put personal profit above the law.”

🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/jury-co…

.@ASGWoodward issued the following statement today in connection with the closing of the Antitrust Division’s investigation into the proposed merger between Seismic Software, Inc. (Seismic) and Highspot Inc. (Highspot):

“After a targeted review of key competitive questions, the Antitrust Division made the decision to close its investigation, reducing the Second Request compliance burden on the merging companies. The resolution of this matter using a targeted approach is an excellent example of the Antitrust Division efficiently reviewing a proposed merger with an expedited focus on key dispositive issues.”

🔗: justice.gov/opa/pr/stateme…