The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today increased jurisdictional thresholds for premerger notification filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the HSR Act).

Revised HSR Thresholds

The FTC revises the thresholds annually based on changes in the gross national product.1 The new thresholds will be effective 30 days after their publication in the Federal Register. The increased thresholds will result in fewer reportable transactions under the HSR Act.

The HSR Act requires parties engaged in certain transactions (including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and exclusive license deals) to file a notification and report form with the FTC and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and to observe the statutorily prescribed waiting period (usually 30 days) prior to closing, if the parties meet the threshold requirements (absent any applicable exemptions).