March 2025 saw several key antitrust updates. The FTC adjusted Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act jurisdictional thresholds, increasing the minimum transaction size requiring premerger notification to $126.4 million, effective February 21, 2025; however, these new rules face a legal challenge from the US Chamber of Commerce alleging the FTC exceeded its authority.
Concurrently, President Trump terminated the appointments of both Democratic FTC Commissioners, shifting the commission to a Republican majority, which may alter enforcement priorities. Additionally, the DOJ Antitrust Division sued private equity firm KKR & Co., alleging a "culture of noncompliance" and systematic flouting of HSR reporting requirements in numerous transactions between 2021 and 2022, signaling continued enforcement focus on HSR compliance, particularly in private equity. KKR has denied the allegations.
Source: Frost Brown Todd