The decree was entered by the court on October 29, 1998.
In United States v. General Electric Company and InnoServ Technologies, Inc., the Division challenged the acquisition of InnoServ by GE. The complaint alleged that the acquisition would lessen competition substantially in the markets for servicing certain models of GE medical imaging equipment and in the markets for multi-vendor service (in which some hospitals contract with a single provider to service most or all of a hospital's equipment) in local areas throughout the United States. GE is the world's largest manufacturer of medical imaging equipment and a leading provider of service for all types and brands of medical equipment, and InnoServ's PREVU software is one of very few programs available, besides that offered by GE, to service some models of imaging equipment. A proposed consent decree was filed simultaneously settling the suit. The decree requires GE to sell InnoServ's PREVU software to a third party. The decree was entered by the court on December 16, 1998.
In United States and States of Ohio, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Commonwealth of Kentucky, States of Maryland, Michigan, New York, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, States of Texas, Washington and Wisconsin v. USA Waste Services, Inc., Dome Merger Subsidiary and Waste Management, Inc., the Division and 13 states challenged the $13.5 billion acquisition of Waste Management Inc. ("WMI") by USA Waste Services Inc. ("USA Waste"). WMI and USA Waste were two of the nation's largest waste collection and disposal companies. The complaint alleged that the acquisition would lessen competition substantially for waste collection and disposal services in 21 geographic areas across the United States. A proposed consent decree was filed simultaneously settling the suit. The decree requires USA Waste to divest waste collection and/or disposal operations in thirteen states, covering 21 metropolitan areas: Tucson, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; Denver, Colorado; Gainesville and Miami, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Baltimore, Maryland; Detroit, Flint and Northeast, Michigan; New York, New York; Akron, Cleveland, Canton and Columbus, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Allentown, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The decree is awaiting entry by the court.
In United States v. Citicorp, Inc., Citicorp Services, Inc., GTECH Holdings Corporation and Transactive Corporation, the Division challenged the acquisition of the electronic benefit transfer ("EBT") system business of Transactive Corporation ("Transactive"), a subsidiary of GTECH Holdings Corporation, by Citicorp Services, Inc. ("Citicorp"), a subsidiary of Citicorp, Inc. The complaint alleged that the acquisition would lessen competition substantially in the provision of EBT services to state and local governments. EBT services are used by state and local agencies to provide food stamps and cash benefits to Americans who qualify for welfare payments. Federal law requires all states to use EBT systems to deliver food stamp benefits by the year 2002. In the challenged transaction, Citicorp would acquire from Transactive the contracts to deliver EBT services to the states of Texas, Illinois, and Indiana and Sacramento County in California, as well as certain computer hardware and software used to provide processing services in these states. In addition to the acquisition of these contracts, there is also a non-compete provision in their agreement that would prevent Transactive from competing with Citicorp for new EBT contracts or licensing its processing system to another vendor for use in delivering EBT systems. The complaint alleged that the acquisition would eliminate competition for EBT contracts, resulting in higher prices and lower quality services for state and local agencies and lower quality services for recipients of welfare benefits. On January 29, 1999, the parties abandoned the transaction.
In United States v. Halliburton Company and Dresser Industries, Inc., the Division challenged the proposed merger of Halliburton and Dresser.
