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From Home Furnishing Business
Judge Rules Tempur Sealy is Clear to Purchase Mattress Firm
February 2,
2025 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry
Bloomsburg News reported U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge filed an order on Jan. 31 ruling that Tempur Sealy International, Inc. was cleared to move forward with its $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm, Inc.
This ruling came after a federal judge in Texas had rejected a claim by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that the deal would hurt consumers.
While the judge ruled in favor of the companies to clear a way for the deal, they cannot close the deal until Feb. 7. This allows time for the FTC to consider an appeal.
According to Bloomsburg, this marks a critical defeat for the FTC, that had more significant antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration.
The Case Summary on the FTC's website indicates that the Federal Trade Commission moved to block Tempur Sealy International, Inc.’s (Tempur Sealy) proposed $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm Group Inc. (Mattress Firm).
The Commission issued an administrative complaint and authorized a lawsuit in federal court to block the acquisition, alleging that Tempur Sealy—the world’s largest mattress supplier and manufacturer—will have the ability and incentive to suppress competition and raise prices for mattresses for millions of consumers once it acquires Mattress Firm.
Judge Eskridge did not explain his ruling, which was filed under a seal due to confidential and proprietary information in the order. A redacted version of the order will be made available for release on Feb. 4.