Federal Register #2026-11635

FTC Consent Agreement: Divestiture of Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Ascension-AmSurg Acquisition

This opportunity concerns the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) proposed consent agreement related to Ascension Health Alliance's planned acquisition of AmSurg (Ambulatory TopCo, LLC): - Government Buyer: - Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Office of the Secretary - Transaction Overview: - Proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AmSurg by Ascension Health Alliance - Both organizations are major providers of outpatient surgical services - Geographic Scope: - Affects five metropolitan areas: Nashville (TN), Panama City (FL), Tulsa (OK), Waco (TX), and Wichita (KS) - FTC Allegations and Requirements: - FTC alleges the merger would substantially lessen competition in outpatient surgical services, particularly for gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and orthopedics - Consent agreement requires divestiture of AmSurg's majority interests in seven ambulatory surgery centers in the affected areas - Includes provisions for transition assistance (up to one year), protection of confidential information, maintenance of asset viability, and appointment of a compliance monitor - Products/Services Requested: - No specific products or OEMs are mentioned - Service line item: Divestiture of seven ambulatory surgery centers, including transition assistance and compliance monitoring - Unique Requirements: - Divestiture must restore competition in the specified markets - Transition assistance and monitoring are mandated to ensure compliance

Description

This notice concerns a proposed consent agreement by the Federal Trade Commission to settle alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition related to Ascension Health Alliance's proposed acquisition of Ambulatory TopCo, LLC (AmSurg). The acquisition, valued at approximately $3.9 billion, would combine two significant providers of outpatient surgical services in five metropolitan areas, raising antitrust concerns. The consent agreement requires divestitures of AmSurg's ownership interests in specified ambulatory surgery centers to preserve competition. Public comments on the proposed agreement are requested by July 10, 2026.

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