News

FTC chief not too happy about Staples-Office Depot deal, claims report

Megamerger doesn't seem to have federal regulator support but final decision not due until mid October.

September 23, 2015

There may not be a huge mega office supply player in play after all as the latest news regarding the merger of Staples and Office Depot aren’t very encouraging.

A New York Post report states the Federal Trade Commission may not be supporting the melding of the two powerhouse industry players in an $11.3 billion union. The report states the FTC Bureau of Competition Head, Deobrah Feinstein, is the one balking at the merger. A formal recommendation is reportedly due from the FTC this week and there is an Oct. 12 deadline for an official FTC ruling.

"The FTC is determining what the prospective competitive environment will be after ODP and Staples merge," a consultant told the Post, which reported Staples declined to comment on the news and FTC officials did not return press calls.