Deal, no deal: The Tipline for 1 April 2020

Deals continue to move through the clearance process amid the covid-19 pandemic, with the Department of Justice’s antitrust division unconditionally approving Morgan Stanley’s purchase of trading platform E*Trade. One of the larger potential deals of the year fell apart amid the pandemic and resulting market disruption, however: Xerox dropped its $35 billion hostile takeover bid for larger printing rival HP. We have a story on antitrust counterclaims in a patent infringement case beating a motion to dismiss, and also updates on two dismissals of antitrust cases, which include a ruling in favour of the National Hot Rod Association.