Merger guidelines

<p>Merger guidelines in the United States are a set of internal rules promulgated by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Antitrust_Division/II22BCm8">Antitrust Division</a> of the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice/2SuTuevo">Department of Justice</a> (DOJ) in conjunction with the <a href="/facts/Federal_Trade_Commission/Hkz0PwF9">Federal Trade Commission</a> (FTC). These rules have been revised over the past four decades. They govern the process by which these two regulatory bodies scrutinize and/or challenge a potential <a href="/facts/Mergers_and_acquisitions/YfczSf3M">merger</a>. Grounds for challenges include increased <a href="/facts/Market_concentration/A0novQjt">market concentration</a> and threat to <a href="/facts/Competition/FpQaEhHv">competition</a> within a <a href="/facts/Relevant_market/Em6meyhf">relevant market</a>.
</p><p>The merger guidelines have sections governing both <a href="/facts/Horizontal_integration/1WdzQFhW">horizontal integration</a> and <a href="/facts/Vertical_integration/SQa0Sn6t">vertical integration</a>.
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Merger guidelines open-in-new

Merger guidelines