OTHER NEWS - March 24, 1995

Antitrust Review Process to Be Streamlined: The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department announced new measures meant to speed review of mergers under federal antitrust laws by making the process more efficient and less costly. FTC Chairman Janet Steiger said the new system will also expedite the processing of requests for information from companies that plan to merge and will exempt non-controversial deals from review. Under the new procedures, which of the two agencies would review a proposed merger would be decided in most cases within six days or nine business days once applications for review are filed. Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust law, both agencies are empowered to review and approve mergers.