Is There Collusion in the Baby-Formula Industry?: FTC Scrutinizes State Contracts Bidding Process
Is There Collusion in the Baby-Formula Industry?: FTC Scrutinizes State Contracts Bidding Process
婴儿配方奶粉行业是否存在串通行为？: 联邦贸易委员会审查州合同招标程序
- The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) investigation concerns potential collusion among baby-formula manufacturers as it examines whether companies like Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) and other formula manufacturers have engaged in collusion or coordination while bidding for state contracts.
- Furthermore, the agency is also exploring whether the coordination among these companies has had a broader impact on sales outside of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) formula-supply program, as stated by FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya.
- Related: Abbott's Baby Formula Brouhaha: Judge Says No Harm, No Foul in Contamination Controversy.
- Abbott Laboratories has stated its cooperation with the FTC's investigation, Wall Street Journal reported.
- In previous correspondence, Abbott's lawyers denied any knowledge of collusion or coordination and expressed confusion regarding the factual basis of the agency's investigation.
- In January, the FTC had initially requested information from Abbott as a part of its investigation into companies bidding for state infant-formula supply contracts.
- Nestlé SA (OTC:NSRGF) (OTC:NSRGY) also received a request for information from the FTC and has responded accordingly.
- Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (OTC:RBGLY) (OTC:RBGPF), another company frequently awarded WIC contracts, has not commented on the specific government investigations but stated its commitment to complying with regulatory and enforcement agencies' requests.
- While the FTC declined to provide further details, labeling them as nonpublic, the investigation is one among several initiated by federal agencies against Abbott, including a criminal investigation by the Justice Department prompted by the closure of one of Abbott's manufacturing plants last year, which contributed to a nationwide formula shortage.
- The recently revealed FTC documents shed light on Abbott's attempts to limit the information request and the FTC's rejection of their request.
- Price Action: ABT shares closed at $105.74 on Tuesday.
- 联邦贸易委员会（FTC）的调查涉及婴儿配方奶粉制造商之间的潜在串通行为，该调查正在调查各公司是否喜欢 雅培实验室 纽约证券交易所代码：ABT）和其他配方奶粉制造商在竞标州合同时进行了串通或协调。
- 此外，正如联邦贸易委员会专员阿尔瓦罗·贝多亚所说，该机构还在探讨这些公司之间的协调是否对妇女、婴儿和儿童（WIC）配方奶粉供应计划之外的销售产生了更广泛的影响。
- 相关： 雅培的婴儿配方奶粉 Brouhaha：法官说污染争议没有伤害，没有犯规。
- 据《华尔街日报》报道，雅培实验室已表示将配合联邦贸易委员会的调查。
- 在先前的信函中，雅培的律师否认对串通或协调一无所知，并对该机构调查的事实依据表示困惑。
- 1月，联邦贸易委员会最初要求雅培提供信息，这是其对竞标州婴儿配方奶粉供应合同的公司的调查的一部分。
- NestleSA （OTC: NSRGF）（OTC: NSRGY）也收到了联邦贸易委员会的信息请求，并做出了相应的回应。
- Reckitt Benckiser 集团有限公司 另一家经常获得WIC合同的公司（OTC: RBGLY）（OTC: RBGPF）没有对政府的具体调查发表评论，但表示承诺遵守监管和执法机构的要求。
- 尽管联邦贸易委员会拒绝提供更多细节，将其标记为非公开调查，但该调查是联邦机构对雅培发起的几项调查之一，包括司法部因雅培一家制造工厂去年关闭而引发的刑事调查，这导致了全国范围的配方奶短缺。
- 最近公布的联邦贸易委员会文件揭示了雅培试图限制信息请求以及联邦贸易委员会拒绝其请求的情况。
- 价格走势： ABT股价周二收于105.74美元。