US: Megamerger fee increase proposed

Big companies aiming to merge would have to pay more in fees when filing for antitrust review under legislation that Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) plans to introduce in the upcoming weeks.

“In an era of megadeals that reach tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars, we need a new category of fees that reflects the complexities of mega-mergers and their serious impact on consumers,” Klobuchar said on March 13 in a speech at the Center for American Progress.

The proposed new filing fee is part of a package of bills that Klobuchar says will help antitrust officials enforce competition laws. The other two bills would track the effectiveness of merger settlements and analyze how investment ownership affects competition.

Klobuchar’s views on antitrust enforcement are influential because she is currently the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. Her views will guide lawmakers, particularly Democrats, as the committee determines how it investigates big mergers or other potential antitrust violations.

Full Content: Bloomberg

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.