Latest news with #DanielGuarnera
New York Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Ad Giants, Seeking Merger, Agree to F.T.C.'s No-Boycott Deal
The Federal Trade Commission has paved the way for the advertising giants Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group to complete a long-awaited $13.5 billion merger, after the companies agreed that they would not boycott media platforms because of the platforms' political content. The agreement, detailed in a consent decree that the F.T.C. announced on Monday, is an unusual move by one of the nation's principal antitrust regulators. As part of the consent decree, Omnicom and Interpublic cannot band together with other ad companies to direct their clients to participate in such boycotts of social media sites, magazines, TV networks or other publishing platforms. 'Coordination among advertising agencies to suppress advertising spending on publications with disfavored political or ideological viewpoints threatens to distort not only competition between ad agencies, but also public discussion and debate,' Daniel Guarnera, director of the F.T.C.'s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement. The consent decree is part of an effort by the Trump administration to use federal agencies to stanch what it considers corporate America's political bias against conservatives. 'It's a clear effort to deliver on the promise of the Trump-Vance program to use antitrust law to challenge censorship in technical antitrust terms,' said Bill Kovacic, a former F.T.C. commissioner. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Synopsys gets conditional FTC approval for Ansys acquisition
Chip designer Synopsys has received conditional approval from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for its $35bn acquisition of software developer Ansys. In January 2024, the companies signed a definitive agreement to execute the deal. As per the latest conditions set forward by the FTC, Synopsys and Ansys must divest certain assets to Keysight Technologies to address antitrust concerns. This divestiture aims to maintain competition in software tool markets essential for semiconductor and light simulation device design. The FTC's proposed divestiture order seeks to protect consumers from potential price increases for products such as cars, smartphones, and televisions. FTC Bureau of Competition director Daniel Guarnera said: 'The FTC's action today protects Americans from higher costs for the countless everyday products that use computer chips, LED screens, fibre optic cables, and many other high-tech components. 'The FTC's divestiture order ensures that competition can thrive across software markets that are critical to designing the digital products that power Americans' daily lives.' Synopsys develops Electronic Design Automation software for semiconductor design, while Ansys offers Simulation & Analysis software for product testing, including semiconductors. Under the proposed consent order, Synopsys will divest its optical software tools used for designing and simulating optical devices such as LED screens and lenses. Additionally, Synopsys will divest its photonic software tools, which aid in designing devices using photons, like fibre optic cables and solar panels. Ansys will divest its PowerArtist tool, which measures and optimises power consumption of digital chips during the Register Transfer Level design stage. The consent order addresses FTC allegations of anticompetitive behaviour in optical, photonic, and RTL power consumption analysis tool markets. The consent order mandates that Synopsys and Ansys complete divestitures within ten days of the acquisition's closure. The order also requires Synopsys and Ansys to provide transition services and technological support to enable Keysight to compete with the merged entity. A monitor will oversee the consent order's implementation, and a divestiture trustee will be appointed if divestitures are not completed, it said. "Synopsys gets conditional FTC approval for Ansys acquisition" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Business Insider
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
FTC to require Synopsys, Ansys to divest assets to resolve antitrust concerns
The Federal Trade Commission said it will require Synopsys (SNPS) and Ansys (ANSS) to divest certain assets to resolve antitrust concerns surrounding their $35B merger. The FTC's proposed divestiture order will preserve competition across several software tool markets that are critical for the design of semiconductors and light simulation devices, which are used in a wide range of products. The proposed order will help protect consumers from higher input prices for cars, smartphones, cameras, televisions, and other critical products. 'The FTC's action today protects Americans from higher costs for the countless everyday products that use computer chips, LED screens, fiber optic cables, and many other high-tech components,' said Daniel Guarnera, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. 'The FTC's divestiture order ensures that competition can thrive across software markets that are critical to designing the digital products that power Americans' daily lives.' Under a proposed consent order, Synopsys will divest its optical software tools, which enable engineers to design and simulate optical devices that generate, reflect, or refract light, such as LED screens, mirrors, and lenses. Synopsys will also divest its photonic software tools, which assist in the design and simulation of devices that use photons as a signal to transmit information, which include fiber optic cables and solar panels. In addition, Ansys will divest a power consumption analysis tool, called PowerArtist, which is used to measure and optimize the power consumption of digital chips at an early stage of the design stage, known as Register Transfer Level design. Both Synopsys and Ansys will divest their assets to Keysight Technologies (KEYS).
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FTC sues to block GTCR's ‘unlawful acquisition' of Surmodics
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sued to block GTCR's proposed $627m merger-acquisition of critical medical device coatings manufacturer Surmodics over anticompetitive activity concerns. GTCR owns a majority stake in Biocoat, the second largest manufacturer of hydrophilic coatings used on devices such as catheters, while Surmodics is the space's largest player. According to the FTC, Surmodics and Biocoat recognise one another as direct competitors and closely monitor each other's business strategy, while targeting the same large, small, and startup medical device manufacturers. This 'fierce competition' has therefore driven the companies to improve coating quality and services, lower prices, and increase innovation – all beneficial dynamics that would be eliminated were the deal to complete, the FTC said. Since the outsourced hydrophilic coatings sector already has few competitors, the FTC alleges that if the deal proceeds, the establishment of a combined company controlling more than 50% of the market for outsourced hydrophilic coatings would 'significantly increase market concentration' in the sector, giving it 'reason to believe' the acquisition would violate the 2023 Merger Guidelines. Jointly issued by the FTC and the US Department of Justice (DoJ), the merger guidelines emphasise a more aggressive approach to merger enforcement, particularly around horizontal mergers and market concentration. The FTC's bureau of competition director, Daniel Guarnera said: 'Medical device makers rely on high-quality coatings in designing and bringing to market life-saving devices, such as neurovascular catheters. 'This merger threatens to disrupt competitive dynamics that have ultimately benefitted patients. Today, the FTC is stepping in to protect patients from this unlawful acquisition.' Surmodics entered into a definitive agreement on the merger-acquisition last May, with the deal receiving shareholder sign-off in August 2024. Asserting that the merger was 'pro-competitive', Surmodics said it 'respectfully disagreed' with the FTC's conclusions and intended to 'vigorously defend' the case in court in order to complete the merger. 'Surmodics remains confident in both its rationale for the merger and the value it will bring to all stakeholders, including shareholders, customers and patients,' the Minnesota-headquartered company stated. 'We have worked constructively with the FTC over the last several months to secure regulatory approval for the merger and are disappointed by its decision to initiate litigation.' The merger challenge marks the FTC's first brought under the Trump Administration, which issued an executive order last month mandating that major regulators including the FTC seek executive branch approval on any new policy priorities. President Trump designated Andrew Ferguson as the FTC's new chairman in January. At the time, Ferguson vowed to end the previous administration's 'assault on the American way of life' and usher in a 'new Golden Age' for American businesses, workers, and consumers. Medical Device Network has reached out to GTCR and Surmodics for further comment. "FTC sues to block GTCR's 'unlawful acquisition' of Surmodics" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
