Factbox-US deals blocked by regulators or facing intense scrutiny
(Reuters) – A U.S. judge blocked the pending $25-billion merger of U.S. grocery chains Kroger (NYSE:) and Albertsons (NYSE:) on Tuesday, in the latest win for the Federal Trade Commission under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Here are other deals that have fallen through, been blocked, or face scrutiny:
DEALS TERMINATED
DEAL VALUE CONTEXT
JetBlue-Sp $3.8 JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:) and Spirit Airlines (OTC:)
irit billion scrapped their $3.8-billion merger
Airlines agreement in March 2024, with the
low-cost carriers saying there was
no path forward after a U.S. judge
blocked the deal in January on
anti-competition concerns.
Tapestry-C $8.5 Tapestry (NYSE:) abandoned its bid for
apri billion Michael Kors owner Capri after a
judge blocked it following a lawsuit
by the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC), nipping the possible creation
of a U.S. luxury giant to compete
with European behemoths.
Avangrid $8.3 Iberdrola (OTC:)’s U.S. unit Avangrid Inc (NYSE:)
Inc-PNM billion said in January 2024 it had
Resources terminated its planned $8.3 billion
acquisition of rival PNM Resources,
because it could not get all the
necessary regulatory approvals to
close the deal by Dec. 31, 2023.
DEALS BLOCKED
DEAL VALUE CONTEXT
Kroger-Alb $25 A U.S. district judge in Portland,
ertsons billion Oregon, as well as a Washington state
court judge in Seattle blocked the
pending $25 billion merger between the
top two traditional grocery chains,
Kroger and Albertsons, leaving the
companies to consider their options.
DEALS UNDER SCRUTINY
DEAL VALUE CONTEXT
UnitedHeal $3.3 The U.S. Department of Justice and
th billion three U.S. states filed a lawsuit in
Group-Amed November 2024 to block UnitedHealth (NYSE:)
isys Inc Group’s $3.3 billion acquisition of
Amedisys Inc (NASDAQ:), citing concerns that
the deal would reduce competition in
the home health services market.
Capital $35.3 New York Attorney General Letitia
One- billion James is investigating whether
Discover Capital One (NYSE:)’s proposed $35.3 billion
Financial takeover of Discover Financial
Services Services violates the state’s
antitrust law, the state said in
October 2024.
Nippon $14.9 Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion bid for
Steel-U.S. billion U.S. Steel has faced opposition by
Steel both newly elected President Donald
Trump and the outgoing Biden
administration. A top Nippon Steel
executive and U.S. Steel’s CEO met
with senior U.S. officials in
September in an effort to salvage the
deal.
Tempur $4 billion The U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Sealy said in July 2024 it would sue to
Internatio block the $4 billion merger between
nal- mattress manufacturer Tempur Sealy (NYSE:)
Mattress International Inc and retailer
Firm Mattress Firm. Tempur Sealy now
expects to close the deal later this
year or early 2025.
