---
title: "FTC Bureau of Competition Statement on Termination of PlayPower’s Acquisition of Rival Playground Manufacturer Burke"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/32102244-7466-4757-a55f-66aed898346f
source: "FTC Press Releases"
original_url: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/10/ftc-bureau-competition-statement-termination-playpowers-acquisition-rival-playground-manufacturer
category: "Regulation"
topics: ["Regulation & legal","Finance & M&A"]
published: 2026-10-27T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T00:01:05.916Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1589216532372-1c2a367900d9?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# FTC Bureau of Competition Statement on Termination of PlayPower’s Acquisition of Rival Playground Manufacturer Burke

**TL;DR:** The FTC blocked PlayPower's acquisition of BCI Burke, a rival playground manufacturer, citing concerns over anticompetitive effects. The acquisition would have given PlayPower's owners control over more than 30% of the relevant market.

*originally published in FTC Press Releases on 2026-10-27. [Read the original](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/10/ftc-bureau-competition-statement-termination-playpowers-acquisition-rival-playground-manufacturer).*

## Story

Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera issued the following statement in response to the announcement that Platinum Equity and its portfolio company, PlayPower, abandoned the proposed acquisition of BCI Burke following a lawsuit filed last week by the FTC and a dozen states to block the proposed merger:

“PlayPower’s decision to abandon its proposed acquisition of Burke in the face of the FTC’s enforcement action is a win for American consumers and will help drive down the prices that schools, churches, daycares and parks departments pay for playgrounds. State and municipal governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars on playground equipment every year, so taxpayers are among the biggest beneficiaries from continued head-to-head competition between PlayPower and Burke. Tens of millions of children and their families will also benefit from higher quality, better service and greater playground innovation.

The top five manufacturers—including PlayPower and Burke—control 85%–90% of the market for commercial outdoor playground equipment. This proposed merger is the latest in a series of acquisitions by PlayPower. It would have cut the number of major competitors down from five to four and would have given PlayPower’s owners control over more than 30% of the relevant market.

The remaining fringe of small manufacturers often lack the distribution channels, sales representatives, safety certifications, manufacturing capacity and product portfolios needed to replace the competition that would have been lost from this proposed merger.

I want to thank the FTC staff who worked to assemble an overwhelming evidentiary record in this matter, as well as our state partners for their collaboration. The Trump FTC will continue to protect American consumers from bad deals that raise prices, hurt quality and reduce innovation.”

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to protect and educate consumers. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. You can learn more about how competition benefits consumers , file an antitrust complaint , or comment on a proposed merger . For the latest news and resources, follow the FTC on social media , subscribe to press releases and read our blog .

## Entities

- Regulation (sector)
- Federal Trade Commission (regulator)
- ftc rule (topic)
- market competition (topic)
- FTC Press Releases (publication)
- Platinum Equity (investor)
- PlayPower (company)
- BCI Burke (company)
- Daniel Guarnera (person)
- antitrust lawsuit (topic)
- PlayPower acquisition of BCI Burke (deal)
- Platinum Equity investment in PlayPower (deal)

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Originally reported by FTC Press Releases (https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/10/ftc-bureau-competition-statement-termination-playpowers-acquisition-rival-playground-manufacturer). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/32102244-7466-4757-a55f-66aed898346f).