MediaBuyerPlanner: The FTC’s attempt to block the planned merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats has been stymied. A federal judge has rejected the attempt, which could mean good news for the proposed XM-Sirius merger.
According to an analyst report from Stifel Nicolaus, the ruling is a “modest positive” for the pending XM-Sirius merger and Google-DoubleClick transactions, both of which are under scrutiny by the Department of Justice/FCC and FTC respectively, writes Radio Ink.
The report states that, while mergers are fact-specific, the judge’s opinion could give XM-Sirius and Google-DoubleClick some “new legal ammo to argue for defining their relevant markets broadly, which could reduce antitrust concerns about potential anti-competitive affects.”
Related stories:
- Sirius, XM Unveil a la Carte Pricing Plans for Post-Merger
- Google Aquires DoubleClick for $3.1B; Microsoft Urges Review of Deal
- DoubleClick Sale Could Spook Publishers
- Analyst: XM, Sirius Merger Likely to Pass Regulatory Hurdles
