ANALYSIS: How ‘Litigating the Fix’ Is Upending Merger Review

May 11, 2023, 3:11 PM UTC

The Department of Justice announced on May 5 that it reached a settlement with Assa Abloy AB, a Swedish lock manufacturer, ending the DOJ’s lawsuit seeking to block Assa Abloy’s $4.3 billion merger with US lock maker Spectrum Brand Holding Inc. The agreement will see Assa Abloy divest assets to Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc., and the move is intended to continue competition in the markets for premium mechanical door hardware and smart locks.

In the past, a company reaching a settlement with the DOJ to divest assets in order to complete a merger would be unsurprising. ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

Learn About Bloomberg Law

AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools.