FTC Announces New HSR and Section 8 Thresholds

After seeing the first decrease in the HSR thresholds in over a decade last year, the Federal Trade Commission announced today that it will 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 $92 million to $101 million. In addition, the "size-of-person" and filing fee thresholds will also increase. These revised thresholds will become effective thirty days after their publication in the Federal Register.

The Commission also issued revised thresholds relating to the prohibition of certain interlocking directorates under Section 8 of the Clayton Act.

Click here to read a full copy of the Commission's announcement, including a complete listing of the revised thresholds. Click here for a copy of the FTC's announcement and information regarding the Clayton Act, Section 8 thresholds.