Corning to Supply Sigma-Aldrich Under FTC Settlement
Specifically, the order would require Corning, for a period up to 60 days, to provide Sigma-Aldrich with products with which to supply North American customers at a price that does not exceed the product’s price. In addition, Corning would provide technical assistance at a cost not exceeding Corning’s direct cost. Other competitors in the market include Thermo Fisher Scientific and Greiner Bio-One.
Washington, DC 10/31/12—To resolve charges that Corning’s proposed acquisition of Becton Dickinson’s Discovery Labware Division would be anticompetitive (see IBO 4/15/12), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed that Corning enable Sigma-Aldrich to produce cell culture labware. Corning would provide Sigma-Aldrich with assets and assistance for manufacturing Corning’s line of tissue culture–treated (TCT) dishes, multiwell plates and flasks in a manner similar to Corning’s process until Sigma-Aldrich can develop its own manufacturing capabilities for these products. The FTC complaint alleges the North American market for TCT cell culture products is “highly concentrated” and that, because Corning and Becton Dickinson are leading suppliers, the acquisition would eliminate a significant competitor, enabling Corning to raise prices. The FTC stated that Sigma-Aldrich has the existing infrastructure for marketing and selling these products and “is well-positioned to replace the competition lost in the market” as a result of the acquisition. The FTC order is subject to public comment until November 30, after which the FTC will decide whether to finalize it.
