FTC Close Investigation Into Merger of Victory Memorial Hospital and Provena St. Therese Medical Center

The Federal Trade Commission has announced its decision to close its investigation into the consummated merger of two Waukegan, IL hospitals - Victory Memorial Hospital and Provena St. Therese Medical Center - and has notified the parties of its decision. In February 2000, the two hospitals entered into a joint operating agreement, creating the combined firm Vista Health.

As part of the FTC's continuing effort to provide transparency in its decision-making process and to provide guidance about the application of the antitrust laws to mergers in this market, the Commission has issued a statement outlining its reasons for closing the investigation. Commissioners Mozelle W. Thompson and Pamela Jones Harbour have issued a separate, dissenting statement. Both statements are available as a link to this press release on the FTC's Web site. The Commission vote to close the investigation was 3-2, with Commissioners Thompson and Harbour dissenting.

Copies of the statement are available from the FTC’s Web site at www.ftc.gov. The FTC’s Bureau of Competition seeks to prevent business practices that restrain competition. The Bureau carries out its mission by investigating alleged law violations and, when appropriate, recommending that the Commission take formal enforcement action. To notify the Bureau concerning particular business practices, call or write the Office of Policy and Evaluation, Room 394, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580, Electronic Mail: antitrust@ftc.gov; Telephone (202) 326-3300. For more information on the laws that the Bureau enforces, the Commission has published "Promoting Competition, Protecting Consumers: A Plain English Guide to Antitrust Laws," which can be accessed at http://www.ftc.gov/bc/compguide/index.htm.

(FTC File No. 011-0225)