The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (collectively, the U.S. Antitrust Agencies) have recently reinvigorated antitrust enforcement against company “interlocks”—i.e., when a director or...more
As the February 10, 2025, implementation deadline for the new Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filing forms and instructions rapidly approaches, companies that are considering acquisitions or mergers, whether as a buyer or seller,...more
On August 16, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an agreement with natural gas producer EQT Corporation (EQT) and private equity firm Quantum Energy Partners (Quantum) to resolve concerns stemming from alleged...more
On August 16, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (“the FTC”) marked its first enforcement action of the prohibitions on interlocking directorates under Section 8 of the Clayton Act in over 40 years. Section 8 prohibits an...more
On March 9, 2023, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that five directors resigned from four separate corporate boards and that another corporation declined to exercise its board...more
SEC Amends Trading Plan Rule, Requires More Disclosure for Insider Trading Amended - Rule 10b5-1 for trading plans takes effect on February 27, 2023. The amended rule adds new conditions to the affirmative defense against...more
In what might be a further expansion of antitrust enforcement of interlocking directorates, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a policy statement announcing that it now interprets Section 5 of the FTC Act to grant it...more
Back in April 2022, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter hinted very strongly that the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be looking at Section 8 violations of the Clayton Act. That...more
Recent activity and statements from the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission signal that the federal agencies are likely to be more aggressive in pursuing enforcement against what they identify as...more
WHAT HAPPENED - • Seven directors resigned from corporate boards following promises of enforcement of Clayton Act Section 8 (15 U.S.C. § 19) by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Antitrust Division (the Division), the...more
In the single largest enforcement event in the history of Section 8 of the Clayton Act, it was recently revealed that seven directors have resigned from the corporate boards of five public companies in response to the Justice...more
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent letters to multiple public companies, investors and individuals advising of concerns of “interlocking directorates” and stating that it may bring lawsuits for...more
Transactions involving private equity should expect to face antitrust concerns from the DOJ that go beyond the question of how many competitors will remain afterwards, even if the transactions do not trigger an HSR filing. ...more
The world is returning to work. An environmental activist fund won a quarter of Exxon's board seats. World leaders announced plans for a minimum corporate tax. This issue of The Informed Board provides insights for...more
Regardless of size or industry, thoughtful director appointment is critical to the success of any public company. Yet following the departure of a director, many boards are left scrambling to locate and onboard a suitable...more
On January 30, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board (the “Board”) adopted final rules (the “Final Control Regulation”) to provide increased transparency and consistency around determining when an investor company has “control”...more
On January 30, the Federal Reserve released a highly anticipated final rule that substantially updates and clarifies the agency's regulatory framework for determining when an investor exercises a controlling influence over a...more
On January 28, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the annual adjustment of the thresholds that trigger premerger reporting obligations (and the mandatory waiting period) under the Hart-Scott Rodino (HSR) Act,...more
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Order No. 856-A on July 18, 2019 granted in part and denied in part a request for rehearing of Order No. 856. Order No. 856 eased restrictions on current or potential interlocking...more
The FTC and the DOJ Antitrust Division have again warned companies, along with their board members and officers, of the legal prohibition on interlocking directorates: when an individual, or an organization’s agent(s),...more
AHA GOVERNANCE SURVEY - The governance and board development committee will benefit from an overview of the American Hospital Association (AHA) 2019 National Heath Care Governance Survey Report, which describes a...more
On February 15, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the annual adjustment of the thresholds that trigger premerger reporting obligations (and the mandatory waiting period) under the Hart-Scott Rodino (HSR) Act,...more
On July 19, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the “Commission”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to update and clarify its regulations covering “interlocking directorate” positions (i.e.,...more
1. Higher Thresholds For HSR Filings - On January 19, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission announced revised, higher thresholds for premerger filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The...more
On January 19, 2017, 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...more