WASHINGTON, July 24, 2026 — The Justice Department has restored a targeted merger-review process designed to reduce the burden on companies while allowing antitrust investigators to focus more quickly on the parts of a proposed transaction that may harm competition.
The Antitrust Division said Thursday that it will again use targeted “Second Request” investigations under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
Companies involved in large mergers are generally required to notify federal antitrust regulators before closing. Regulators can then demand extensive documents and information when a transaction raises competitive concerns.
Under the restored process, investigators and merging companies may enter into timing agreements that prioritize the materials most likely to answer the government’s central questions.
For businesses, the change could mean faster decisions without necessarily producing weaker enforcement.
Traditional Second Requests can be expensive and time-consuming because companies may need to collect and review millions of documents. A narrower initial process may help resolve some investigations before full compliance becomes necessary.
The Justice Department also published a model timing agreement intended to provide greater certainty about how the process will operate.
The change could affect acquisition timelines, financing arrangements and the cost of completing large transactions.
Companies should not assume that targeted reviews guarantee approval. Transactions presenting serious competition concerns may still face full investigations, settlement demands or litigation.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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