Meadowlands Mystery: The Tipline for 5 August 2021

After a hiccup in Philadelphia, the Federal Trade Commission’s mergers IV section appears to have rediscovered its mojo by heading up I-95. A federal judge in New Jersey granted the FTC’s request to block Hackensack Meridian’s purchase of Englewood Healthcare on Wednesday – but instead of taking a victory lap, the commission issued a warning. “It remains a mystery why these two hospital systems decided to pursue a highly suspicious merger in the middle of a global pandemic,” an FTC spokesperson said. “Hospital executives hatching merger plans should take note.” The court’s opinion has not been unsealed.