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FTC Announces Increased HSR and Section 8 Thresholds

Client Alert | 1 min read | 01.21.11

As further evidence that the U.S. economy has begun to turn the corner, the Federal Trade Commission announced today that it would increase the jurisdictional thresholds applicable to both the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") and Section 8 of the Clayton Act. These dollar thresholds are indexed annually based on changes in the U.S. gross national product.

The HSR Act requires that certain large transactions be notified prior to their consummation. This year, the minimum "size-of-transaction" threshold for reporting mergers and acquisitions will increase from $63.4 million to $66.0 million. In addition, the "size-of-person" thresholds, the filing fee thresholds and the thresholds applicable to certain exemptions will also increase. These revisions will become effective thirty days after their publication in the Federal Register.

The FTC also issued revised thresholds relating to the prohibition of certain interlocking directorates under Section 8 of the Clayton Act. Those revisions take effect immediately.

Click to read a full copy of the Commission's announcement, including all of the revised thresholds.

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