1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |Joint DOJ-FTC Memorandum Puts Defense M&A Deals in the Crosshairs

Joint DOJ-FTC Memorandum Puts Defense M&A Deals in the Crosshairs

Client Alert | 1 min read | 04.14.16

On April 12, DOJ and FTC issued a joint statement, “Preserving Competition in the Defense Industry,” which reiterates the analytical framework for reviewing defense industry mergers and acquisitions set forth in the DOJ/FTC 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines and emphasizes that the antitrust agencies will continue to give substantial weight to DOD’s own assessment of such transactions – highlighting the need for companies in the defense industry to adopt a coordinated strategy when pursuing strategic transactions. According to the accompanying press release, the agencies “thought it timely to reinforce [the] message” that they remain “committed to preserving competition for current and future defense procurement ... [i]n light of recent speculation about possible future consolidation,” an indication to companies considering defense industry M&As that the cognizant oversight agencies are likely to remain active in reviewing such transactions.

Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 12.29.25

FYI – GAO Finds Key Person “Available” Despite Accepting Employment with a Different Company

GAO’s key personnel rule is well-known—and often a source of frustration— amongst government contractors.  Proposed key personnel who become “unavailable” prior to contract award—especially where they have accepted employment with a different company—may doom an offeror’s proposal by rendering it noncompliant with solicitation requirements.  But GAO’s recent decision in FYI – For Your Information, Inc., B-423774, B-423774.2 (Dec. 19, 2025) provides some potential relief from that rule. ...