TIMELINE-Rocky history of Illumina's Grail deal

June 11 (Reuters) - Gene-sequencing machine maker Illumina Inc has filed an appeal against an order from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that demands it divest cancer diagnostic test maker Grail Inc due to competition concerns. Illumina spun off Grail in 2016 but retained a 12% stake. It reacquired Grail in 2021 despite opposition from European and U.S. regulators. The following is a chronology of events in the Illumina-Grail deal: DATE DEVELOPMENT Jan. 10, Illumina spins off Grail as a new company 2016 Sept. Illumina reacquires 21, 2020 the cancer detection test maker for $7.1 billion March The U.S. FTC seeks to stop the deal 30, 2021 July 13, The deal faces a full-scale EU antitrust probe 2021 Aug. 18, Illumina completes the acquisition of Grail for 2021 $8 billion ahead of EU regulatory approval Aug. 24, The U.S. FTC seeks to 2021 undo the deal , alleging it would harm innovation and boost prices Oct. 12, EU antitrust regulators resume their scrutiny of 2021 the deal after a two-month halt Oct. 29, EU orders Illumina to keep Grail as 2021 a separate company Dec. 16, Illumina criticizes EU antitrust 2021 regulators for scrutinizing the deal even though Grail has no business operations in Europe Jan. 25, EU antitrust regulators extend the deadline for 2022 their decision on the deal Jan. 28, Illumina offers to cut prices and continue to 2022 allow rivals access to its technologies in a bid to allay EU antitrust concerns Feb. 4, EU antitrust regulators temporarily pause for 2022 the second time their investigation into the deal, while waiting for the companies to provide details July 13, The company loses its challenge in Europe's 2022 second-highest court against antitrust scrutiny. July 19, EU says Illumina risks hefty fine for jumping 2022 the gun on Grail deal Sept. 1, A U.S. administrative judge rules in favor of 2022 the deal, in a blow to the FTC, which says it will appeal Sept. 6, Illumina will have to divest Grail after the EU 2022 blocks the takeover Oct. 28, EU antitrust regulators renew interim measures 2022 that were due to expire by end of October by ordering Illumina to keep Grail as a separate entity Dec. 13, Illumina defends the deal, pledging to keep 2022 selling its DNA sequencing services to other firms, as it seeks to head off a potential vote by U.S. antitrust regulators to kill the deal Jan. 10, Illumina challenges the EU antitrust 2023 order to keep biotech firm Grail separate, ratcheting up its fight against the bloc's regulators Feb. 8, The company takes its case to senior EU and 2023 national antitrust officials at a closed hearing to argue an antitrust order to divest Grail March Billionaire investor Carl Icahn launches proxy 13, 2023 fight at Illumina and pushes for three board seats, criticizing the deal April 3, The FTC orders Illumina to divest Grail, finding 2023 that the deal would stifle competition in the U.S. market for cancer tests April A U.S. appeals court says it will accelerate 19, 2023 reviewing Illumina's challenge to the FTC order May 25, Carl Icahn secures a seat for one of his three 2023 nominees on Illumina's board, a partial victory for the activist investor June 2, Illumina says it has expanded its board, adding 2023 two C-suite executives June 5, Illumina files an appeal against the FTC's 2023 order, arguing that the agency "violated due process by depriving Illumina and Grail of a fair proceeding before an impartial tribunal" June 11, Illumina CEO Francis deSouza steps down, and the 2023 company names General Counsel Charles Dadswell as interim CEO. Sources: Company statements, Reuters reports (Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Paul Simao)