FTC aims to ‘recalibrate’ merger review with more openness to settlements, Ferguson says
By Flavia Fortes ( May 20, 2026, 15:44 GMT | Insight) -- Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency is seeking to reshape merger enforcement by showing greater openness to negotiated settlements, arguing that constructive engagement with companies can reduce “litigate-the-fix” tactics and produce more effective pro-competitive remedies. Ferguson criticized late-stage merger remedy proposals that force antitrust agencies to litigate an entirely different case, arguing that 11th-hour divestiture plans can unfairly complicate enforcement litigation.Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency is seeking to reshape merger enforcement by showing greater openness to negotiated settlements, arguing that constructive engagement with companies can reduce “litigate-the-fix” tactics and produce more effective pro-competitive remedies....
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