The Pulse of Second Requests: Charts and Context from the Annual HSR Report

Editor’s Note: Taken from the annual Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Report recently released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the numbers represented in the following charts highlight metrics that may be useful for law firms, legal departments, and legal services providers seeking to understand the annual pulse rate of Hart-Scott-Rodino Act mandated merger transaction reviews and Second Requests. The charts may also be useful as a baseline for considering provider assertions regarding the depth and breadth of their Second Request support for this unique type of eDiscovery. For context, of the 61 Second Requests in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2018, and ending on September 30, 2019, HaystackID participated in ten Second Request investigations, representing support in approximately 16.4% of the total FTC and DOJ Second Requests during this time frame.

Antitrust Agency Requests: From HSR to HaystackID

Given the relatively small number of Second Request opportunities when compared to the traditional opportunities for eDiscovery in support of audits, investigations, and litigation, claims of expertise and experience in this unique type of discovery may be difficult to assess without the context of the actual numbers of Second Requests made annually by the FTC and DOJ. Many providers may claim experience in conducting the tasks required in Second Requests. However, a significantly fewer number of providers may actually have experience in conducting those tasks as part of an actual Second Request case or matter.

The Requirement for Second Requests: The HSR Act

The Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 was adopted to help the federal government avoid anti-competitive outcomes during the course of mergers and acquisitions. The HSR Act requires parties to mergers or acquisitions of certain sizes to notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and to provide information and documentation regarding the proposed transaction. Upon review of submitted information and documentation, the FTC or DOJ may make additional requests, known as Second Requests, before rendering a decision on the proposed transaction. Normally requiring a response within 30 days, most Second Requests result in a settlement, litigation to block the transaction or abandonment of the transaction by involved parties.

Provided for context and comparison purposes are six information charts that share HSR Act related metrics ranging from transactions reported to percentages and numbers of transactions warranting Second Requests.

The Pulse Rate of Second Requests: Six Informational Charts

Chart 1: HSR Act Merger Transactions Reported

1 – HSR Act Merger Transactions Reported – 2019

Chart 2: HSR Merger Transaction Candidates for Second Requests (Adjusted Transactions)

2 – HSR Act Merger Transaction Candidates for Second Requests – 2019

These figures are different than the number of transactions reported as they omit all transactions for which the agencies were not authorized to request additional information.


Chart 3: Percentage of Transactions Resulting in HSR Act Second Requests

3 – Percentage of Transactions Resulting in HSR Act Second Requests – 2019
These figures are a percentage of the total number of adjusted transactions.


Chart 4: Number of HSR Act Second Requests (Combined FTC and DOJ)

4 – Number of HSR Act Second Requests – 2019

Chart 5: Number of HSR Act Second Requests – FTC

5 – Number of HSR Act Second Requests – FTC – 2019

Chart 6: Number of HSR Act Second Requests – DOJ

6 – Number of HSR Act Second Requests – DOJ – 2019

A Quick Look at HaystackID and Second Requests (Case Study)

Having participated in ten Second Request investigations, representing support in approximately 16.4% of the total FTC and DOJ Second Requests during the 2019 time frame, the following case study shares HaystackID’s support in six comprehensive Second Requests.

1 – HaystackID Antitrust Agency Request Support – Update

HaystackID Second Request Backgrounder

[Case Study] An Integrated and Organic Approach to Second Requests: HaystackID Antitrust Agency Request Support
[On-Demand Webcast] Anatomy of a Second Request: Managing Antitrust Agency Requests
[Webcast Transcript] Anatomy of a Second Request: Managing Antitrust Agency Requests


Learn More. Today.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you in your audits, investigations, and litigation as well as support antitrust agency Second Requests.

About HaystackID

HaystackID is a specialized eDiscovery services firm that helps corporations and law firms find, listen, and learn from data when they face complex, data-intensive investigations and litigation. With an earned reputation for mobilizing industry-leading computer forensics, eDiscovery, and attorney document review experts, our Forensics First, Early Case Insight, and ReviewRight services accelerate and deliver quality outcomes at a fair and predictable price.

HaystackID serves more than 500 of the world’s leading corporations and law firms from North American and European locations. Our combination of expertise and technical excellence, coupled with a culture of white glove customer service, makes us the alternative legal services provider that is big enough to matter but small enough to care. Learn more today at HaystackID.com.

References

(1) Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (2020). Hart-Scott-Rodino Annual Report Fiscal Year 2019. [online] Federal Trade Commission. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-bureau-competition-department-justice-antitrust-division-hart-scott-rodino/p110014hsrannualreportfy2019.pdf [Accessed 20 Jul. 2020].

(2) Federal Trade Commission (2020). HSR Transactions Filings and Second Requests by Fiscal Year (CSV). [online] Federal Trade Commission. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/site-information/open-government/data-sets [Accessed 20 Jul. 2020].

(3) Federal Trade Commission (2020). Model Request for Additional Information and Documentary Material (Second Request). [online] FTC Premerger Notification Office. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/merger-review/jun2020_model_second_request_final.pdf [Accessed 20 Jul. 2020].

Source: HaystackID