U.S. Department
of Justice
Civil Enforcement
The Antitrust Division’s civil enforcement program protects and promotes competition on behalf of the American people. The Antitrust Division has statutory authority to challenge mergers and acquisitions that may lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly and to investigate and prosecute other civil nonmerger offenses.
Civil Enforcement Sections and Offices
- Civil Conduct Task Force
- Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section
- Financial Services, Fintech, and Banking Section
- Healthcare and Consumer Products Section
- Media, Entertainment, and Communications Section
- Technology and Digital Platforms Section
- Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section
Statutes and Guidelines
Antitrust Statutory Provisions
Vertical Merger Guidelines (June 30, 2020)
The following superseded Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines are provided for historical purposes:
- 1984 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines (Withdrawn January 2020, see DOJ and FTC Announce Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines for Public Comment)
Horizontal Merger Guidelines (August 19, 2010)
The following superseded Merger Guidelines are provided for historical purposes:
- 1997 Merger Guidelines
- 1992 Merger Guidelines
- 1984 Merger Guidelines
- 1982 Merger Guidelines
- 1968 Merger Guidelines
Commentary on the Horizontal Merger Guidelines (March 2006)
Merger Enforcement Workshop (February 2004)
Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors (April 2000)
The following merger remedies policies are provided for historical purposes:
Model Documents and Procedures
Second Request Internal Appeal Procedure (June 2001)
2006 Merger Review Process Initiative
Merger Review Process Initiative (Revised December 14, 2006)
Press Release: Antitrust Division Announces Amendments to Its 2001 Merger Review Process Initiative (December 15, 2006)
Background Information on the 2006 Amendments to the Merger Review Process Initiative (December 14, 2006)
Model Process and Timing Agreement (for use only as part of the Merger Review Process Initiative) (December 14, 2006)
Report to Congress Regarding Merger Review Procedures (June 19, 2001)
Bank Merger Competitive Review
Antitrust Division Banking Guidelines Review: Public Comments Topics & Issues Guide (December 17, 2021)
Frequently Asked Questions regarding applications filed with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (October 9, 2014)
Bank Merger Competitive Review: Introduction and Overview (1995) (Current as of September 13, 2000)
Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Premerger Notification
The following information is available on the FTC’s website:
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Information
To check on the status of a filing
Email the FTC’s Premerger office at premerger@ftc.gov.
Statistics
Ten Year Workload Statistics Report
HSR Annual Reports to Congress (on the FTC’s website)
Merger Challenges Data, Fiscal Years 1999–2003 (December 18, 2003)
Antitrust Division Annual Report (1999): Appendix B includes information on merger challenges from April 1996 to September 1999.
Other Merger Documents
Protocol for Coordination in Merger Investigations Between the Federal Enforcement Agencies and State Attorneys General (March 11, 1998)