Petition Seeks to Reverse Restrictions as Natural Gas Giants Claim Compliance
The Federal Trade Commission is under pressure to revisit a 2023 consent order curbing a $5.2 billion deal between Quantum Energy Partners and EQT Corporation, two major players in the Appalachian Basin’s natural gas market.
A new petition, filed by EQT, Quantum, and affiliates, argues the order, designed to prevent anticompetitive practices like interlocking directorates and information sharing, is obsolete.
By October 2024, Quantum divested its EQT shares, and the firms dissolved a joint venture tied to mineral rights acquisitions by February 2024.
The FTC’s original order addressed concerns that the deal would harm competition in the nation’s largest natural gas region.
With a 30-day public comment period open until August 21, 2025, the outcome could reshape oversight of energy mergers.
The decision matters as it tests the FTC’s resolve to enforce antitrust laws amid shifting corporate compliance claims.
Leave a Reply