Author: 21st Century Competition

Pfizer/AstraZeneca and the Public Interest: Do Vince Cable’s Foreign Takeover Proposals Prescribe the Right Medication? (ESRC Centre for Competition Policy)

(by David Reader) When US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer sought to acquire its UK-listed counterpart AstraZeneca earlier this year, discussion centred around the supposed adverse impact that the merger could have on the UK’s science base, particularly in light of Pfizer’s questionable track record for asset-stripping and cutting investment in R&D. …read more

Innovation & Law: The Practice of Law Has Changed Over the Past 10 Years – BigLaw Shifts to SmallLaw (Canadian Competition and Regulatory Law)

I’ve been practicing law now – for the most part competition, advertising and regulatory law – for the past 12 years or so. Over that time there have been a number of significant changes to the practice of law in Canada, in the United States and around the world. …read more

US: $6.4B gaming merger granted early regulatory approval (Competition Policy International)

International Game Technology announced Monday that it has been granted an early termination of the waiting period for its proposed merger with GTECH.

According to reports, the end of the waiting period means that officials have approved of GTECH’s $6.4 billion takeover of IGT. The deal includes a transition of $4.7 …read more

US: Oil mogul plans $44B buyout spree (Competition Policy International)

Billionaire Richard Kinder, who owns Kinder Morgan, is reportedly planning a major oil buyout spree as the industry in the US opens up to $1.5 trillion in potential acquisitions.

According to reports, Kinder will acquire and merge all of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, Kinder Morgan Management and El Paso Pipeline Partners, …read more