WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission capped a busy week with two major enforcement actions — finalizing antitrust conditions on a $35 billion software merger and teaming with Nevada to stop an alleged nationwide tax debt scam.
On Friday, the Commission voted 3-0 to approve a final consent order requiring Synopsys, Inc. and Ansys, Inc. to divest key assets to preserve competition in critical software tool markets. The move resolves antitrust concerns over the companies’ massive merger, which regulators warned could raise prices and stifle innovation in semiconductor and optical design technologies.
Under the order, Synopsys must sell off its optical and photonic software tools, while Ansys will divest its PowerArtist power analysis platform. The buyer, Keysight Technologies, Inc., will take ownership of the divested assets. Regulators said the decision ensures continued competition among the software tools used in the design of semiconductors and light simulation devices.
“The final order protects innovation in industries vital to both national security and the global technology supply chain,” the FTC said in a statement following the unanimous vote.
Also Friday, the FTC announced a coordinated federal and state action to shut down what officials described as a deceptive tax debt relief operation accused of impersonating government agencies and preying on financially vulnerable consumers.
A federal court, acting at the FTC’s request, granted a temporary restraining order against American Tax Service (ATS), its principals Terrance Selb and Tyler Bennett, and several affiliated companies. The complaint alleges the operators falsely posed as government officials, promised to settle tax debts for “pennies on the dollar,” and pocketed tens of millions of dollars while doing little to help their clients.
“People trying to pay down their tax debt shouldn’t have to worry about fraudsters pocketing their hard-earned money,” said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will not hesitate to act to stop companies like ATS that target hard-working Americans with bogus debt relief services.”
According to the complaint, ATS misled consumers through threatening mailers and telemarketing calls, falsely claiming to be affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service or other tax authorities. The FTC alleges the company violated the FTC Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Impersonation Rule. Nevada’s attorney general filed companion claims under state law.
The lawsuit names ten corporate defendants, including multiple ATS-related entities, and the two individual operators. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
Both actions underscore the FTC’s dual focus on safeguarding consumers and ensuring fair competition amid heightened scrutiny of corporate mergers and deceptive marketing practices.
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