antitrust Archives - Americans for Financial Reform

Analysis: Antitrust and Banking Agencies Must Block Capital One-Discover Merger

The $35 billion takeover bid would vault Capital One into 6th place among the biggest U.S. banks and create the largest U.S. credit card lender, ahead of current leader JPMorgan Chase. This new company could raise prices for cardholders, especially lower-income consumers and Black and Latine households and give Capital One the power to jack up debit card fees on merchants. In short, it would reinforce the megabank monopoly power that is already a serious problem in the American economy. The Biden administration must stand up for consumers, communities, and small businesses and block the Capital One-Discover merger.

Letters to the Regulators: Letter in Support of the FTC’s Proposed Rulemaking for Premerger Notification, Reporting, and Waiting Period Requirements

AFREF submitted a comment supporting the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed rule to require complex companies including private equity firms to disclose more information about their holdings and business lines when pursuing mergers and acquisitions.

Letters to the Regulators: Letter in Support of Proposed Merger Guidelines

Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund sent a letter commending the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice for developing a robust, accessible update to the merger guidelines

News Release: New Study Calls Attention To The Growing Presence Of Private Equity Ownership In The Home Healthcare Sector

New study by the American Antitrust Institute and Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund calls attention to the growing presence of private equity ownership in the home healthcare sector.

News Release: Federal Reserve and OCC Should Reject TD Bank’s Proposed Merger with First Horizon Bank, Groups Write in Comment Letter

Amid growing concern about corporate consolidation, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund are leading a letter calling for the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to reject a proposed merger between TD Bank and First Horizon Bank.

Blog: Antitrust Authorities Turn Focus to Private Equity Role in Monopolies

At long last, private equity is getting the attention it deserves from antitrust authorities as a force for consolidation, higher prices, and less consumer choice.

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Letters to Regulators: Comment Letter in Response to the FTC and DOJ’s Request for Information on Merger Enforcement

AFREF, joined by the Center for Economic Policy and Research and United for Respect, sent a comment letter responding to the FTC and DOJ’s request for information on merger enforcement. The letter calls on the agencies to to closely scrutinize and create presumptions to challenge acquisitions that employ leveraged buyouts and techniques like it.

gavel from a courtroom - Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

News Release: Federal Authorities Should Halt Bank Mergers Until Guidelines Are Strengthened

The federal authorities should halt all bank merger approvals until they strengthen the outdated guidelines that govern whether financial institutions can combine, according to a letter delivered today by 30 public interest organizations.

Letter to Regulators: Letter Calling on Regulators to Halt Bank Mergers

AFREF led a letter to regulators stating that the laissez-faire stance adopted by the Department of Justice and the federal bank regulators and current merger guidelines have hurt small businesses, community banks, and households, especially those in BIPOC communities. The letter urges regulators to temporarily halt consideration of pending bank mergers until the DOJ and banking agencies adopt a plan that strengthens the guidelines to protect consumers.

Letters to Regulators: Letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Regarding the Bank Merger Competitive Review Guidelines.

Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund submitted a comment letter asking the Department of Justice to protect the public interest from ever larger banks exercising market power to impose higher costs on consumers, reduce the volume or quality of banking services, and from becoming so large that they pose a risk to the entire financial system and real economy.