FTC Asks Quest for Data in Unilab Deal

Quest Diagnostics Inc. said its pending acquisition of Tarzana-based Unilab Corp. will be delayed because the Federal Trade Commission has asked for more information on the $900-million deal.

Quest, the No. 1 U.S. health testing firm, unveiled the plan to buy Unilab in early April as part of an effort to increase its reach in California, the nation’s biggest market for laboratory testing.

Teterboro, N.J.-based Quest said the FTC made the request under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Such requests, while not uncommon, usually signal that regulators reviewing a deal have more questions about potential anti-competitive implications.

Ahead of the news, issued after the close of trading, Unilab closed down 7 cents at $27.16 on Nasdaq and Quest closed down a penny at $84.95 on the New York Stock Exchange.