On January 26, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the revised thresholds for determining whether companies are required to notify federal antitrust authorities about a transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (HSR Act). If a proposed merger; acquisition of stock, assets or unincorporated interests; or other business combination meets certain thresholds, the parties must notify the FTC and the Department of Justice and observe a waiting period before consummating the transaction. Section 7A(a)(2) of the Clayton Act requires the FTC to revise all of the HSR Act thresholds annually, based on changes in the gross national product.
The new minimum filing threshold will be $84.4 million. All of the revised thresholds are higher than the current amounts, as shown on the chart below. The new HSR Act thresholds likely will be published in the Federal Register by the end of January 2018 and will become effective 30 days thereafter.
The FTC also announced the revised jurisdictional dollar thresholds applicable to Clayton Act Section 8 prohibitions of interlocking officers or directors on their corporate boards of directors. The revised thresholds are $34,395,000 for Section 8(a)(1) and $3,439,500 for Section 8(a)(2)(A). These new thresholds will take effect immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.
These revised thresholds will affect the jurisdictional requirements and certain exemptions under the HSR Act, as well as the HSR Act’s filing fee schedule. Thus, for example, a transaction valued below the revised minimum notification threshold of $84.4 million generally will not need to be reported, and the size-of-person test will not apply to a transaction valued above $337.6 million. The filing fees for reportable transactions will be as follows:
- $45,000 for transactions valued in excess of $84.4 million but less than $168.8 million;
- $125,000 for transactions valued at $168.8 million or greater but less than $843.9 million; and
- $280,000 for transactions valued at $843.9 million or more
This memorandum is provided by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and its affiliates for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This memorandum is considered advertising under applicable state laws.