The Antitrust Week In Review

Here are some of the developments in antitrust news this past week that we found interesting and are following.

F.T.C. is Said to Investigate Claims that Google Used Android to Promote Its Products.  Google’s world wide regulatory problems are coming back home to the U.S.  The Federal Trade Commission has started investigating complaints that Google unfairly uses its Android mobile operating system to bolster such popular Google products as Google Search and Google Maps, according to sources involved in the inquiry.

EU Launches Extensive Probe into Staples’ Bid for Office Depot.  EU antitrust regulators have opened an extensive investigation into U.S. office supplier Staples’ $6.3 billion bid for rival Office Depot out of concerns of possible price hikes as a result of the deal.  In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission is also examining the deal, which has received the green light from competition authorities in China, Australia and New Zealand.

U.S. Insurance Mega Mergers Could Hurt Care: Psychiatric Group.  The American Psychiatric Association is warning U.S. antitrust regulators that two proposed health insurance deals could worsen access to mental health care services, adding to public opposition from several prominent doctors groups.  Anthem Inc. would become the largest U.S. health insurer if a proposed $47 billion acquisition of Cigna Corp., is consummated.  Aetna Inc. is seeking to buy Humana Inc., which would make that insurer the largest provider of Medicare plans for older people.