Ryanair Holdings Plc was fined nearly €256 million ($302 million) by Italy’s antitrust watchdog for allegedly using an “abusive strategy” to thwart customers who booked through travel agencies.The Rome-based competition authority said Europe’s most popular airline imposed barriers such as additional facial verification on those passengers, blocked certain agency bookings by disabling payments and deleting accounts, and repeatedly disrupted sales. Ryanair also pressured agencies into restrictive contracts, s ...

Group 1 - The Trump administration has signed an executive order to establish food supply chain security task forces to investigate potential risks from price fixing and anti-competitive behavior [1][2] - The task forces will be formed by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to assess whether foreign-controlled companies are increasing living costs for Americans and posing national security threats [2][5] - The task forces will investigate food-related industries for anti-competitive practices and the impact of foreign control on food prices in the U.S. [6][8] Group 2 - President Trump emphasized the importance of an affordable and secure food supply for national and economic security, highlighting threats from anti-competitive behavior by foreign corporations [8] - Certain companies in the American food supply chain have previously settled civil suits for price fixing, indicating vulnerabilities in sectors such as meat processing, seed, fertilizer, and equipment [8] - The task forces are required to report their findings and potential congressional actions to key congressional leaders within 180 days and again within 365 days of the order [10]

Core Points - Spain's competition watchdog, CNMC, has expanded its investigation into Apple's App Store practices, focusing on potential anti-competitive behavior and unfair commercial terms imposed on app developers [2][3][4] - The inquiry, which began in July 2024, aims to determine if Apple has established a pricing schedule that developers must adhere to in order to distribute their apps [2][4] - Apple maintains that its App Store is designed to provide a safe and trusted experience for users while offering a valuable business opportunity for developers [3][4] Regulatory Context - The CNMC's investigation highlights concerns regarding Apple's closed ecosystem, which is seen as conflicting with European competition regulations [4] - The regulator's statement indicates that the practices under scrutiny could be considered restrictive to competition among businesses [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has blocked the proposed acquisition of Surmodics, Inc. by GTCR LLC due to anti-competitive concerns, particularly regarding market control in hydrophilic coatings, a vital component in medical devices [2][6]. Company Summary - Surmodics' acquisition by GTCR was valued at approximately $627 million, or $43.00 per share, representing a significant premium over the company's market value [2]. - The company has expressed strong opposition to the FTC's decision, arguing that the merger would be pro-competitive and beneficial for stakeholders, including customers and patients [3]. - Surmodics intends to challenge the FTC's ruling in court, asserting that the acquisition aligns with long-term industry trends and growth objectives [3][8]. - In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, Surmodics reported total revenues of $29.9 million, a decrease of 2% year-over-year, and a loss per share of 60 cents, which is a 20% improvement from the previous year's loss [9]. Industry Summary - The FTC's decision reflects a broader regulatory trend towards stricter scrutiny of private equity acquisitions in the healthcare sector, aiming to prevent monopolistic behavior and rising healthcare costs [7]. - The merger's blockage could set a precedent for future transactions, making it more challenging for private equity firms to consolidate within the medical technology space [7][8]. - The FTC's unanimous decision indicates a strong commitment to maintaining competition in the medical coatings sector, which has historically benefited from rivalry between companies like Surmodics and Biocoat [6].