Inside these posts: Antitrust

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EU launches formal Google probe after complaints

European Union antitrust regulators launched a formal investigation on Tuesday into Google after several search service providers complained that the company had abused its dominant position. Get the full story »

EU regulators OK Unilever purchase of Sara Lee unit

The European Commission Wednesday cleared consumer-goods giant Unilever PLC to buy Sara Lee Corp.’s personal care unit, but stipulated that the antitrust approval depends on the sale of Sara Lee’s Sanex bath, shower and deodorants brand in Europe. Get the full story »

US approves Simon Property’s buy of Prime Outlets

US antitrust regulators approved Simon Property Group’s purchase of Prime Outlets on Wednesday on condition that it sell an outlet center in Ohio and remove restrictions on some tenant leases in Chicago and Orlando. Get the full story »

Antitrust suit against Inbev, Anheuser-Busch falls

The latest court quest by 10 Missouri beer consumers who tried to block InBev’s $52 billion takeover of U.S. beer giant Anheuser-Busch has fallen flat. Get the full story »

Online travel coalition fights Google’s ITA deal

Several leading Internet travel agencies and search engines are urging U.S. government regulators to block Google from buying a technology supplier that plays an instrumental role in finding the best airline fares. The opponents, led by Expedia Inc., have formed a coalition called FairSearch.org to fight Google Inc.’s proposed $700 million acquisition of ITA Software.

Aon, Hewitt deal wins EU regulatory approval

U.S. insurance brokerage Aon Corp. won European Union regulatory approval on Tuesday to purchase Hewitt Associates, creating the world’s largest human resources services company. Aon, the world’s largest insurance brokerage, launched the $4.9 billion bid for Hewitt in July. The transaction was referred to the European Commission, the EU’s competition authority, in August. Get the full story »

EU regulators to review Sara Lee-S.C. Johnson deal

EU regulators will review a bid by bug spray maker S.C. Johnson to purchase Sara Lee Corp.’s remaining insecticide business at the request of national watchdogs, the European Commission said on Wednesday. Sara Lee announced the $200 million deal in June as part of a strategy of focusing on selling food, coffee and tea. Get the full story »

Justice Department OKs United-Continental merger

Passengers at the United and Continental kiosks at O'Hare International Airport, May 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Justice Department approved the proposed merger of United and Continental airlines Friday, closing an unexpectedly speedy four-month investigation that paves the way for the mega-deal to close by Oct. 1.

To win the blessing of federal antitrust regulators, United and Continental agreed to lease slots for 18 round-trip flights to Southwest Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport, beginning in March 2011.

Justice officials said the slot transfer was struck in “response to the department’s principal concerns” regarding the merger, which critics have warned will speed consolidation and eventually leave the three largest U.S. carriers with a lion’s share of the market. Get the full story »

EU pushes back deadline on sale of Sara Lee unit

European Union competition regulators have set a new deadline of Oct. 22 to decide whether to clear Unilever’s $1.3 billion purchase of Sara Lee Corp.’s body care business, the European Commission said on Friday. Get the full story »

EU regulators challenge Sara Lee-Unilever deal

The European Union’s antitrust regulator has formally obnected to Unilever’s planned $1.67 billion acquisition of Sara Lee Corp.’s shower-gel and European detergents business. Paul Matthews, a London-based spokesman for Unilever, said the company remains confident that a “positive agreement” can be reached by the end of the year.

Top California court allows drug antitrust suit

The California Supreme Court has breathed new life into a massive antitrust lawsuit filed by pharmacies against 18 of the country’s largest drugmakers. The pharmacies accuse the drugmakers of conspiring to artificially inflate prices by restricting importation of their drugs made overseas and stifling generic competition.

Suit filed to block United-Continental merger

From Bloomberg News | Attorney Joseph Alioto, who claims to represent U.S. consumers, filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco to block the planned merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, arguring that it would create a monopoly that would hike fares and limit jobs.

Kraft sells Polish chocolate unit

Kraft foods has reached a deal to sell its Wedel chocolate and candy business in Poland, which it acquired with its purchase of Cadbury, to South Korea’s Lotte Group for an undisclosed price. The sale is part of Kraft’s agreement with EU regulators to sell off some units as part of its acquisition of Cadbury.