In May 2024, the Federal Trade Commission issued a rule that defines most existing non-competes as unenforceable unfair methods of competition (subject to an exception for certain senior executives) and bans the future use of most non- competes.

Following a change in administration, on January 20, 2025, President Trump designated Commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson as Chairman of the Commission.

Chairman Ferguson has recently stated publicly that he believes the Commission should reconsider its defense of the challenged rule: “My view is that the Commission ... basically needs to decide whether it’s a good idea [and] it’s in the public interest to continue defending this rule.

In light of the foregoing, the government respectfully moves to hold this appeal in abeyance for 120 days.

An abeyance will conserve party and judicial resources and promote the efficient and orderly disposition of this appeal.

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 113 Date Filed: 03/03/2025 Page: 3 of 8 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission, No. 24-13102 Dempsey, Rachel Emmer, Daniella Epstein, Becker, & Green, P.C. Fairmark Partners LLP Farby, Lesley Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, Andrew N. Friedman, Todd R. Futures Industry Association Glover, Matthew J. Goodnature, Taisa M. Gowdy, Bryan Grigsby, Stacey K. Hearn, Robert Holyoak, Melissa Home Care Association of America Hudson, Brian Independent Electrical Contractors International Franchise Association Janda, Sean R. Klein, Jonathan M.

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 113 Date Filed: 03/03/2025 Page: 4 of 8 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission, No. 24-13102 Khan, Lina M. Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC Lammens, Hon.

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 113 Date Filed: 03/03/2025 Page: 5 of 8 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission, No. 24-13102 Posner, Eric A. Properties of the Villages, Inc. Public Citizen Public Citizen Litigation Group Raab, Michael S. Restaurant Law Center Rigby, Katherine G. Roffino, John Rose, Alexander Saharsky, Nicole A. Samburg, Mark B.

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Seligman, David H. Slaughter, Rebecca Kelly Shane, Peter M. Small Business Majority Starr, Evan Todd R. Friedman, P.A.

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 113 Date Filed: 03/03/2025 Page: 6 of 8 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission, No. 24-13102 Towards Justice United States Council for International Business Vernon, Emily A. Warner, A. Millie Weibust, Erik W. Westmoreland, Rachael L. Zehmer, Lauren Willard

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 68 Date Filed: 11/22/2024 Page: 3 of 14 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-13102 Democracy Forward Foundation Epstein, Becker, & Green, P.C. Fairmark Partners LLP Farby, Lesley Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, Andrew N. Frazelle, Brian R. Friedman, Todd R. Futures Industry Association Galvin, Jodyann Glover, Matthew J. Goodnature, Taisa M. Gorod, Brianne J. Gowdy, Bryan Grigsby, Stacey K. Handberg, Roger B. Hassel, Margaret Hearn, Robert Holyoak, Melissa Home Care Association of America C-2 of 7

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 68 Date Filed: 11/22/2024 Page: 4 of 14 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-13102 Hudson, Brian Independent Electrical Contractors Interfaith Coalition on Corporate Responsibility International Franchise Association Janda, Sean R. Klein, Jonathan M. Khan, Lina M. Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC Lammens, Hon.

Philip R. Liu, Wendy Lubbers, Jeffrey Ludwig, Cynthia Giganti Managed Funds Association Martin, Meagan L. Mayer Brown LLP Mittal, Urja Mody, Arjun Muldowney, Patrick M. Nachmany, Eli Nadeau, Michelle Erin C-3 of 7

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 68 Date Filed: 11/22/2024 Page: 6 of 14 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-13102 Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Slaughter, Rebecca Kelly Shane, Peter M. Small Business Majority Starr, Evan Todd R. Friedman, P.A.

Moreover, the procedural posture of this case—an interlocutory appeal of the grant of a preliminary injunction—will require POV to address non-merits issues as well, including irreparable harm, the balance of the equities, and the public interest.

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 43 Date Filed: 11/12/2024 Page: 3 of 16 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-13102 Democracy Forward Foundation Epstein, Becker, & Green, P.C. Fairmark Partners LLP Farby, Lesley Federal Trade Commission Ferguson, Andrew N. Frazelle, Brian R. Friedman, Todd R. Futures Industry Association Galvin, Jodyann Glover, Matthew J. Goodnature, Taisa M. Gorod, Brianne J. Gowdy, Bryan Grigsby, Stacey K. Handberg, Roger B. Hassel, Margaret Hearn, Robert Holyoak, Melissa Home Care Association of America C-2 of 7

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 43 Date Filed: 11/12/2024 Page: 4 of 16 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-13102 Hudson, Brian Independent Electrical Contractors Interfaith Coalition on Corporate Responsibility International Franchise Association Janda, Sean R. Klein, Jonathan M. Khan, Lina M. Kwall Barack Nadeau PLLC Lammens, Hon.

Philip R. Liu, Wendy Lubbers, Jeffrey Ludwig, Cynthia Giganti Managed Funds Association Martin, Meagan L. Mayer Brown LLP Mittal, Urja Mody, Arjun Muldowney, Patrick M. Nachmany, Eli Nadeau, Michelle Erin C-3 of 7

USCA11 Case: 24-13102 Document: 43 Date Filed: 11/12/2024 Page: 6 of 16 Properties of the Villages, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-13102 Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Slaughter, Rebecca Kelly Shane, Peter M. Small Business Majority Starr, Evan Todd R. Friedman, P.A.

In its motion, Plaintiff-Appellee Properties of the Villages, Inc. (“POV”) explained that—to avoid duplicative litigation and conserve judicial resources—this Court should hold these proceedings in abeyance pending the outcome of the Fifth Circuit’s appeal in Ryan LLC v. Federal Trade Commission (No. 24-10951).

Although a court of appeals may “permit intervention where none was sought in district court,” such a motion may be granted “only in an exceptional case for imperative reasons.” Hall v. Holder, 117 F.3d 1222, 1231 (11th Cir. 1997) ...