Author: Anthony Badaracco

Anthony focuses his practice on antitrust law and business litigation and counseling. He has helped numerous clients obtain clearance from the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission for mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures and provides comprehensive pre-integration counsel in connection with transactions. He has successfully defended clients in civil conduct reviews by federal and state enforcement agencies as well as in criminal investigations. He has experience working with clients in the telecommunications, financial services, advertising, healthcare, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries, among others.

Increase in HSR Reportability Thresholds and Other HSR Developments

In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) made three important announcements for M&A practitioners. First, on January 23, the FTC announced the annual adjustment of the thresholds that trigger premerger reporting obligations under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. The new thresholds will apply to transactions closing thirty days after publication of the announcement in the Federal Register (that is, not earlier than February 24, 2023). Second, the FTC announced the annual adjustment for maximum daily civil penalties for noncompliance with...

HSR Developments

In January 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) made two important announcements for M&A practitioners. First, on January 24, the FTC announced the annual adjustment of the thresholds that trigger premerger reporting obligations under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. The new thresholds will apply to transactions closing after February 23, 2022. Second, the FTC announced the annual adjustment for maximum daily civil penalties for noncompliance with the HSR Act’s requirements (failure to file, failure to observe the mandatory waiting period, or...

FTC Announces New Position on Debt and HSR Valuation

On August 26, the Federal Trade Commission announced a new position on an important factor in determining whether a transaction must be reported under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act: whether debt repayment at closing counts in determining the value of a transaction. The FTC’s new position is that “the full or partial retirement of debt should be included in calculating the Acquisition Price in any instance where selling shareholder(s) benefit from the retirement of that debt.” An explanation of the FTC’s new...

Decrease in HSR Reportability Thresholds and Other HSR Developments

On February 2, 2021, 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. The new thresholds will apply to transactions closing on or after March 4, 2021 (that is, 30 days after publication of the announcement in the Federal Register). This year, for the first time in a decade, the thresholds decreased. Last month, the FTC also announced adjusted thresholds that trigger prohibitions...

Increase in HSR Reportability Thresholds and Other HSR Developments

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, which will apply to transactions closing 30 days after publication of the announcement in the Federal Register. The FTC also announced adjusted thresholds that trigger prohibitions on certain interlocking memberships on corporate boards of directors, which will become effective immediately on publication in the Federal Register. Both sets...