NCO Group Buyout Clears FTC Anti-Trust Hurdle

Collection and BPO powerhouse NCO Group (Nasdaq: NCOG) said late Tuesday it has been notified by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that the company?s proposed buyout, led by chairman and CEO Michael Barrist, has been cleared by both the FTC and Justice Department under antitrust review.

The FTC sent NCO notice that it was ending the waiting period required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 a full three weeks early, thus effectively ending the review of the merger by the FTC and Justice Department.

This first regulatory hurdle was not expected to cause NCO any problems.