The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an administrative complaint alleging that the acquisition of Verallia North America by glass and metal container manufacturer Ardagh Group is “anticompetitive”, in that it relates to the sale of glass containers for beer and spirits.
According to the Luxembourg-based international packaging group, the FTC also said that it would be filing a petition in the federal district court seeking a preliminary injunction to prohibit the closing of the transaction, pending a decision on the merits of the FTC’s administrative complaint.
In a statement, Ardagh Group said: “Ardagh is disappointed in the action that the Commission has taken. We believe that the transaction will benefit glass container customers and is fully consistent with the antitrust laws.
“Ardagh intends to vigorously defend the transaction in litigation, whilst at the same time working with the FTC to seek to resolve its concerns.”
