Absent a merger, Amazon is bound to destroy Staples’ and Office Depot’s retail businesses. But their solid lock on the commercial channel – which prompted the FTC to block the deal – is impervious to the e-tailer’s assaults.
“After several months of battling in court, the FTC was finally able to block the approximately $6 billion merger of Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) and Office Depot (NASDAQ: ODP). Most seemed shocked by the news, wondering why the FTC would block a deal that could potentially help Staples and Office Depot keep up with the internet giant, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).”
