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US: Judge criticizes FTC in Staples-Office Depot merger case

By  |  March 24, 2016

The government’s legal challenge to the planned merger of Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc. took an unexpected turn Wednesday when a federal judge said he was disturbed by allegations that the Federal Trade Commission had sought to alter testimony by Amazon.com.

An Amazon executive, Prentis Wilson, spent most of Wednesday on the witness stand testifying about the company’s new Amazon Business site, which sells office supplies and other products to businesses. He is potentially a key witness because Staples and Office Depot say Amazon’s entry into the market will ensure competition even if they are allowed to merge.

Much of Mr. Wilson’s testimony came in a courtroom that was closed to the public because the parties were discussing confidential Amazon business information.

Full Content: The Wall Street Journal

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