With less than a month before trial, two glass makers and the Federal Trade Commission are on the verge of settling the agency’s suit challenging the companies’ pending $1.7 billion merger—a transaction that’s involved dozens of antitrust lawyers from more than 20 firms.
In July, the FTC filed an administrative complaint alleging that the proposed acquisition of Saint-Gobain Containers Inc. by Ardagh Group S.A.—the second- and third-largest players in the $5 billion glass-container industry—would lead to higher costs and less innovation. Americans use 18 billion glass beer and spirits bottles each year, according to the complaint.
