FTC unveils revised merger review process

Antitrust lawyers say they are cautiously optimistic that long-awaited merger review reforms issued by the Federal Trade Commission Thursday, Feb. 16, will put their clients' mergers on the fast track for federal approval. The initiative, which revamps procedures for mergers subject to a second request for information from the FTC, was a response to complaints by companies and their antitrust counsel about the length of time required to win approval of controversial mergers, as well as the amount of money it costs to supply federal agencies with information about those deals.