Antitrust Scrutiny of Staples-Office Depot Merger Increases

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is stepping up its probe of Staples Inc.’s takeover of rival Office Depot Inc., seeking sworn legal declarations that could be used if antitrust enforcers decide to challenge the deal, according to people contacted by the agency. The requests for sworn statements from other market participants about the deal’s impact on the office supply business is a signal the FTC is gearing up for a possible lawsuit against the deal, which was valued at $6.3 billion when it was announced in February.