Tempur Sealy Cleared to Buy Mattress Firm in Blow to FTC (2)

Tempur Sealy International Inc. was cleared to move forward with its $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm Inc. after a federal judge in Texas rejected a claim by the US Federal Trade Commission that the deal would hurt consumers.

US District Judge Charles Eskridge ruled Friday in favor of the companies, but he said they can’t close the deal until Feb. 7, to allow time for the regulator to consider an appeal. The ruling is a significant defeat for the FTC, which had increased antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration.

Eskridge didn’t explain his ruling, which he filed under seal, ...