The Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976
("HSR Act") requires that parties to significant mergers,
acquisitions, or other transactions notify the Federal Trade
Commission ("FTC") and the Department of Justice
("DOJ") prior to consummating the transaction. Each year,
the FTC amends the thresholds that trigger this premerger
notification requirement based on changes in the gross national
product.
On February 15, the FTC announced its annual adjustments to the
HSR Act filing thresholds for deals signed in 2019. These new
thresholds represent a 6.6% increase over the 2018 thresholds and
are expected to be published in the Federal Register
during the week of February 18, 2019. They will become effective 30
days following publication.
