The Urge to Merge - FTC Provides Details on Upcoming Los Angeles Workshop on Best Practices

Similar Workshops to be Held in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

The Federal Trade Commission today provided additional details on an upcoming public workshop that will be held at the Los Angeles Federal Building, Conference Room "E", 300 N. Los Angeles Street, on June 25, 2002 regarding "Merger Investigation Best Practices." The workshop, which will focus on general merger investigation best practices, is open to all interested parties. Reservations to this free workshop may be made by e-mail to laoutreach@ftc.gov or by phone at 415-848-5100. Additional general sessions on best practices will be held in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, in June; a general session and related workshops on electronic records and accounting and financial data will be held in Washington, D.C. in June and July. Information about these additional workshops is available at www.ftc.gov. Anyone wishing to submit written comments in advance of the sessions may do so at bestpractices@ftc.gov.

Detailed information on the Los Angeles Best Practices workshop is provided below:

General Session on Best Practices -
June 25, 2002; 12:00-1:30 pm (Pacific)

The Commission is using this workshop to solicit input from a broad range of interest groups including corporate personnel, outside and in-house attorneys, economists, consumer groups, and others who have participated in the merger review process. Specific areas in which the Commission is seeking input include: the best use of the initial waiting period, the content and scope of second requests, negotiating modifications to second requests, handling electronic records and financial data, the efficiency of the merger review process, and the time and expense involved in the process. Accordingly, all interested parties are invited to attend and offer views and comments on specific steps the Commission can take to further streamline and make more efficient any aspect of the merger investigation process. FTC participants at this session will include Michael G. Cowie, senior litigation counsel; D. Bruce Hoffman, Associate Director for Regions; Peter A. Richman, attorney, Mergers III Division; and Norris E. Washington, attorney, Western Region.

The FTC's Bureau of Competition seeks to prevent business practices that restrain competition. The Bureau carries out its mission by investigating alleged law violations and, when appropriate, recommending that the Commission take formal enforcement action. To notify the Bureau concerning particular business practices, call or write the Office of Policy and Evaluation, Room 394, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580, Electronic Mail: antitrust@ftc.gov; Telephone (202) 326-3300. For more information on the laws that the Bureau enforces, the Commission has published "Promoting Competition, Protecting Consumers: A Plain English Guide to Antitrust Laws," which can be accessed at http://www.ftc.gov/bc/compguide/index.htm.

Media Contact:

Mitchell J. Katz
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161  

Staff Contact:

Norris Washington
FTC Western Region
415-848-5197