Corporate & Securities Law

FTC Conditions Its Approval of Retail Farm Store Merger on Divestitures in Michigan and Maryland

By Matthew S. Wild

On May 5, 2008, the FTC conditioned its approval of Agrium’s $2.65 billion proposed acquisition of UAP Holding on divestitures on divestitures. The parties provide one-shopping for farms and farmers rely on these type of local stores for bulk fertilizer. Because of its weight, it does not make economic sense to ship these products more than 30 miles. Entry is difficult because of high sunk costs and the need to train personnel. Based on these dynamics, FTC believed that the parties’ overlapping stores in Croswell, Richmond, Imlay City, Vestaburg and Standish, Michigan and Girdletree, Maryland might give the combined company the ability to raise prices in those areas. Accordingly, the FTC required divestitures of one of the parties’ stores in these areas. The press release and analysis to aid public comment are attached.Agrium (Press Release);

Agrium (Analysis to Aid Public Comment)

Full post as published by Antitrust Commentary on May 11, 2008 (boomark / email).