Blockbuster to Comply with FTCs Premerger Rules

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Wednesday entered an order regarding the application of the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) premerger waiting period concerning Blockbuster, Inc.’s (Blockbuster) proposed acquisition of Hollywood Entertainment Corporation (Hollywood). The order, which was signed and entered by Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle, provides that pursuant to an agreement between the Federal Trade Commission and Blockbuster, Blockbuster will not acquire any interest in Hollywood before 11:59 p.m. on March 21, 2005.

Copies of the agreed order regarding the application of the HSR waiting period can be found as a link to this press release on the FTC’s Web site. The order supercedes a prior FTC motion, submitted to the Court on March 4, seeking an order requiring Blockbuster to comply with its HSR premerger filing obligations.

Copies of the court documents related to this case 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.