FTC and DOJ seek comment on updated draft merger guidelines 

The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice July 19 released for comment through Sept. 18 updated guidance describing how the agencies’ review mergers and acquisitions to determine compliance with federal antitrust laws. The agencies said the document outlines 13 principles they may use when determining whether a merger is unlawfully anticompetitive, and clarifies the frameworks and tools they may use when analyzing a merger with respect to each guideline. 

FTC and DOJ initiated the update with a request for public input in January 2022, and plan to use the comments to update the draft before finalizing the guidelines. For more on the draft guidelines, see the agencies’ fact sheet. AHA intends to submit comments on the proposed guidelines.