Today, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published revised thresholds for the Hart-Scott-Rodino (“HSR”) Act, which will take effect on March 4, 2021. Earlier, the FTC also announced new thresholds for Section 8 of the Clayton Act, which governs interlocking directorates. Each of these thresholds is lower for 2021, than for 2020. This is only the second time the HSR Act thresholds, which—like the Section 8 thresholds—are indexed to gross national product, have fallen since annual adjustments began in 2005. In contrast, the maximum daily civil penalty for violations of the HSR Act, which is tied to inflation, has increased.

HSR Act Thresholds

The HSR Act requires parties to certain mergers and acquisitions to notify the FTC and Antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and observe a waiting period (usually 30 days) prior to consummating a reportable transaction. The jurisdictional thresholds are adjusted annually. Beginning March 4, 2021, acquisitions resulting in aggregate holdings of voting securities, assets, or controlling interests in non-corporate entities valued at more than $92 million may be reportable (“size of transaction”).

For transactions that result in aggregate holdings valued at more than $92 million, but less than $368 million, the parties will also need to meet the “size of person” test for the Act to apply. This test will require one “person” to have annual net sales or total assets of at least $184 million and the other “person” to have at least $18.4 million in annual net sales or total assets. However, if the “acquired person” is not “engaged in manufacturing,” the smaller size of person test will only be met if it has assets valued at more than $18.4 million.

The notification thresholds, which are used to determine whether a new filing is required for the acquisition of additional voting securities within five years of the expiration or early termination of a prior filing, will also decrease, as shown below.

Section 8 Thresholds (“Interlocking Directorates”)

With certain exceptions, Section 8 of the Clayton Act prohibits one person from serving as a director or officer of two competing corporations at the same time, if each competitor corporation has capital, surplus and undivided profits above an annually adjusted threshold. Effective January 21, 2021, this threshold is $37,382,000.

However, this prohibition does not apply if:

  • the “competitive sales” (as defined by the statute) of either corporation are less than 2 per centum of that corporation’s total sales;
  • the “competitive sales” of each corporation are less than 4 per centum of that corporation’s total sales; or
  • the “competitive sales” of either corporation are less than an annually adjusted threshold. Effective January 21, 2021, this threshold is $3,738,200.

Civil Penalties

Finally, the FTC has announced the maximum daily civil penalty amount for HSR violations. The amount increased from $43,280 to $43,792 per day of the violation. The new maximum applies to civil penalties assessed on or after January 13, 2021, regardless of when the underlying violation occurred.

How Covington Can Help

Application of Section 8 of the Clayton Act and the HSR Act and its implementing rules can be complex. Our antitrust practice group includes attorneys, including several who served at the Federal Trade Commission or the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, with decades of experience in advising on HSR matters. Our team can provide detailed and practical insight into how these rules apply to various types of entities and transactions.

If you have any questions concerning the material discussed in this client alert, please contact the authors of the blog post.

Photo of James R. Dean Jr. James R. Dean Jr.

James Dean practices in the antitrust and energy regulatory areas. As part of his antitrust practice, James advises clients on all aspects of antitrust law, including mergers, joint ventures, distribution agreements, and trade association activities. He has represented numerous clients in responding to government…

James Dean practices in the antitrust and energy regulatory areas. As part of his antitrust practice, James advises clients on all aspects of antitrust law, including mergers, joint ventures, distribution agreements, and trade association activities. He has represented numerous clients in responding to government investigations and as both plaintiffs and defendants in private antitrust litigation.

James also regularly handles issues related to pre-merger notification filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and foreign merger control regimes.

James also has significant experience with energy regulatory matters. He advises both regulated utilities and financial investors on the federal and state regulation of both natural gas and electricity, including market restructuring issues, obtaining regulatory approval for energy-related transactions, and rate filings.

Photo of Ross Demain Ross Demain

Ross Demain advises clients in complex antitrust matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactions; government investigations; litigation; compliance; and trade association activities.

He has represented clients in civil and criminal investigations before the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and…

Ross Demain advises clients in complex antitrust matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactions; government investigations; litigation; compliance; and trade association activities.

He has represented clients in civil and criminal investigations before the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and state antitrust enforcers, and in private antitrust litigation as both plaintiffs and defendants. Ross also regularly helps clients assess and comply with their premerger notification obligations under the Hart-Scott Rodino (HSR) Act.

Ross has significant experience helping clients achieve positive outcomes across a variety of industries and sectors, including technology, media, electronics, cable, broadcast, industrial products, energy and natural resources, defense, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, sports, and financial services.

Representative litigation victories in which Ross has been involved include:

  • obtaining dismissal of an antitrust claim in a precedent-setting case at the International Trade Commission (ITC) that confirmed that the antitrust injury requirement applies to claims brought under Section 337 (ITC 2018);
  • achieving one of the first dismissals of a corporate defendant on jurisdictional grounds in the sprawling, In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Mich. 2013);
  • attaining dismissal of a purported class action antitrust suit brought by retired NFL players alleging a conspiracy to restrain a market for the sale of their images and likenesses, Washington v. National Football League (D. Minn. 2012); and
  • obtaining an early dismissal of novel resale price maintenance claims brought in federal court under New York’s Donnelly Act, Worldhomecenter.com, Inc. v. KWC America, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. 2011).
Photo of Jim O’Connell Jim O’Connell

Jim O’Connell advises clients on their critical antitrust matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactions; licensing arrangements and other business practices; government investigations; and litigation. In connection with his merger practice, he also regularly helps clients assess and comply with…

Jim O’Connell advises clients on their critical antitrust matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactions; licensing arrangements and other business practices; government investigations; and litigation. In connection with his merger practice, he also regularly helps clients assess and comply with their obligations under the HSR Act and comparable merger control regimes around the world.

Clients and peers recommend Jim for his knowledge of antitrust law and his ability to provide expert and practical guidance. He is also recommended for his detailed understanding of the people and processes of the U.S. antitrust enforcement agencies, which he applies to help his clients navigate their most critical antitrust challenges successfully and efficiently. Legal 500 has described him as a “well-respected” practitioner who is “well connected with the DOJ” and recognized by clients for his ability to “quickly develop a high level of company-specific expertise.”

Jim has represented clients in a broad range of industries and sectors, including leading companies in the e-commerce, pharmaceutical, medical device, financial services, telecommunications, electronics, cable, broadcast, alcoholic beverages, consumer products, industrial products and heavy manufacturing, energy and natural resources, steel, aerospace, defense, chemicals, gaming, and software industries.

Jim joined Covington after over five years of public service with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served in several leadership roles, including as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Staff. As Deputy AAG, he had responsibility for the Division’s appellate program and for the development of its major legislative and policy positions, such as those regarding intellectual property and the enforcement of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. His duties also included managing the Division’s relations with its enforcement counterparts around the world. This extensive international enforcement experience enables him to provide his clients highly informed and practical assessments of their U.S. and non-U.S. antitrust risks. Prior to his government service, Jim practiced antitrust law at an international New York-based firm.

A frequent speaker and writer on antitrust law and policy issues, Jim has also been a leader in the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association for many years, serving in such positions as Chair of the editorial board of Antitrust, the Section’s magazine, and as Co-Chair of the Section’s Federal Civil Enforcement Section. He is currently a member of the Section’s leadership Council. He has also testified before the U.S. Congress and the Antitrust Modernization Commission, and he has served as a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network, which brings together competition enforcement authorities, academics, and leading practitioners from around the world to foster the development of best practices and encourage convergence on matters of antitrust policy.