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ARTICLE · 17 FEBRUARY 2025

2025 Perspectives In Private Equity: Antitrust & Competition

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The heightened focus on antitrust and competition issues that has defined dealmaking globally over the past few years looks set for readjustment since President Trump re-entered the White House.

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Davina Garrod
Davina Garrod
Gorav Jindal
Gorav Jindal
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The heightened focus on antitrust and competition issues that has defined dealmaking globally over the past few years looks set for readjustment since President Trump re-entered the White House.

Under the Biden administration, private equity (PE) firms saw the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division broadening the scope of investigations to include a more novel array of antitrust theories, likely with the aim of chilling many potential combinations from making it out of the boardroom for fear of protracted scrutiny.

The new U.S. administration's appointments of Andrew Ferguson as FTC chair, replacing Lina Khan, and nomination of Gail Slater to head of the DOJ's antitrust division, replacing Jonathan Kanter, signals that it is taking antitrust enforcement seriously. Gail Slater has had a robust career as an antitrust enforcer, having investigated many mergers during her 10 years at the FTC. She also worked as an

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