PlayPower Abandons Acquisition of Playground Maker Burke After FTC Lawsuit

Platinum Equity and its portfolio company PlayPower have abandoned their proposed acquisition of playground equipment maker BCI Burke, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC said the decision followed a lawsuit filed last week by the agency and a dozen states seeking to block the merger.

In a statement dated October 27, 2026, FTC Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera said the decision would help lower the prices that schools, churches, daycares and parks departments pay for playgrounds. He said state and municipal governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars on playground equipment each year.

According to the FTC, the top five manufacturers, including PlayPower and Burke, control 85% to 90% of the market for commercial outdoor playground equipment. The agency said the proposed deal, the latest in a series of acquisitions by PlayPower, would have reduced the number of major competitors from five to four and given PlayPower's owners control of more than 30% of the relevant market.

The FTC said smaller 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.

Guarnera thanked FTC staff and state partners for their work on the case and said the agency would continue to challenge deals it believes raise prices, hurt quality and reduce innovation.

Source: Federal Trade Commission.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/508