Category: Global Blogs

Canada/US: Authorities united in striking down lumber merger (Competition Policy International)

US and Canadian regulators have reportedly both blocked merger plans for Louisiana-Pacific Corp and Ainsworth Lumber Co., an $877 million deal that Louisiana-Pacific said will require further concessions to earn approval.

Reports say either one or both companies may be forced to sell assets; Canada-based Ainsworth confirmed the two are exploring …read more

Spain: Media group Prisa decides on Telefonica offer (Competition Policy International)

Media group Prisa has reportedly accepted Telefonica’s bid to acquire Prisa’s 56 percent share in a pay-TV company, a $1 billion bid that was first revealed Tuesday.

According to reports, Prisa approved of Telefonica’s offer to acquire the shares in DTS, known as Digital+, a move reports say will allow wireless …read more

US: DirecTV unconvinced of AT&T takeover proposals (Competition Policy International)

Days after reports first emerged that wireless giant AT&T could be looking to make its own mark in the changing communications industry with a DirecTV acquisition, the latest reports say the deal is already under way.

DirecTV has met with advisers including Goldman Sachs to work out the acquisition and decide …read more

Italy: Telecom Italia antitrust fine appeal flops (Competition Policy International)

Telecom Italia was unsuccessful in its appeal of an antitrust fine issued to the company for abuse of market dominance, reports say, as a federal court rejected the appeal Thursday.

Telecom Italia was fined nearly $145 million by Italy’s antitrust regulator last year after finding evidence the telco blocked wholesale and …read more