FTC Approves Final Order Imposing Conditions on Veterinary Service Providers Compassion First and National Veterinary Associates

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Compassion First’s proposed $5 billion acquisition of National Veterinary Associates, or NVA, would violate federal antitrust law.

According to the complaint, which was first announced in February 2020, the acquisition would have harmed competition in three local geographic markets for various specialty and emergency veterinary services by eliminating close, head-to-head competition between Compassion First and NVA.

The final order requires Compassion First and NVA to divest three clinics to MedVet Associates, LLC: NVA’s REACH Veterinary Specialists in Asheville, N.C.; Compassion First’s Veterinary Care Center in Norwalk, C.T.; and Compassion First’s Veterinary Referral Center of Northern Virginia in Manassas, V.A.

The Commission vote to approve the final order was 5-0.

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