Remedies ‘Contemplated’ in Nvidia/Arm: Redacted FTC Complaint

If the FTC concludes in an administrative law trial that Nvidia’s proposed $40 billion Arm buy violates the FTC Act or the Sherman Act, the commission may order the companies to give “prior notice” of any “combinations of their businesses with any other company,” said a redacted public version Monday of the complaint the agency filed last week to block the transaction (see 2112030002). Other “contemplated” sanctions include a requirement to file “periodic compliance reports” with the commission. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9. The proposed transaction “would allow the combined firm to use its control of Arm to harm Nvidia’s rivals in ways that substantially lessen competition -- including innovation, price, and feature competition -- in multiple markets,” it said. Nvidia has defended the transaction as one that would benefit the industry and promote competition.