The FTC ordered Ball Corporation to divest eight U.S. aluminum can plants in order to proceed with its acquisition of Rexam PLC.
Retained by the Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission issued a complaint related to the proposed $8.4 billion acquisition of Rexam PLC by Ball Corporation. The FTC retained Cornerstone Research to support expert Aviv Nevo.
The FTC alleged that the acquisition would eliminate direct competition in the United States between Ball and Rexam, the two largest manufacturers of aluminum beverage cans in the world. The complaint alleged that, without a divestiture, the proposed merger would likely substantially lessen competition for aluminum cans.
Under the terms of the consent agreement, Ball and Rexam were required to divest eight aluminum can plants and related assets. The transaction was completed in August 2016.
Case Expert
Aviv Nevo
George A. Weiss and Lydia Bravo Weiss University Professor,
Professor of Economics and Marketing,
The Wharton School and Department of Economics,
University of Pennsylvania;
Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economic Analysis, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice;
Senior Advisor, Cornerstone Research
