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US: FTC wins antitrust fight over pipe price-fixing case

By  |  April 21, 2015

A US appeals court has ruled that US antitrust regulators were right to accuse McWane which makes joints, splitters and other plumbing connectors, of using its market power to exclude competitors.

The US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit said on April 15 that it agreed with the Federal Trade Commission that McWane broke antitrust law. The court affirmed a commission order demanding that McWane end the practice.

The FTC’s factual and economic conclusions that found McWane had monopoly power in the pipe fitting market and determining that McWane’s exclusivity program harmed competition “are supported by substantial evidence in the record … and their legal conclusions are supported by the governing law, ” according to the ruling from a three-member panel of the 11th Circuit.

McWane officials deny the allegation and said they will appeal.

 

Full Content: AL.com

 

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