An Act to improve and facilitate the expeditious and effective enforcement of the antitrust laws, and for other purposes.
PL 94-435 (H.R.8532), enacted 09/30/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1383 
Public Law 94-435 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To improve and facilitate tlie expeditious and effective enforcement of the 
aept. 60, lv7o 
antitrust laws, and for other purposes. 
[H.R. 8532] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate arid House of Representatwes 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
Hart-Scott-
be cited as the "Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 
Rodino Antitrust 
•j^Q/rgj? 
Improvements 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
^?T?«r^7q^'i 
TITLE I—ANTITRUST CIVIL PROCESS ACT AMENDMENTS 
note. 
Sec. 101. Definitions. 
Sec. 102. Civil investigative demands. 
Sec. 103. Custodian of documents, answers, and transcripts. 
Sec. 104. Judicial proceedings. 
Sec. 105. Criminal penalty. 
, 
Sec. 106. Effective date. 
TITLE II—PREMERGER NOTIFICATION 
Sec. 201. Notification and waiting period. 
Sec. 202. Effective dates. 
TITLE III—PARENS PATRIAE 
See. 301. Parens patriae actions by State attorneys general. 
Sec. 302. Conforming amendments. 
Sec. 303. Consolidation. 
. 
Sec. 304. Effective date. 
v 
See. 305. Short title to certain antitrust laws. 
TITLE I—ANTITRUST CIVIL PROCESS ACT 
AMENDMENTS 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 101. Section 2 of the Antitrust Civil Process Act (15 U.S.C. 
1311) is amended— 
. 
. . . 
(1) in subsection (a) — 
(A) by inserting "and" after the semicolon at the end of 
paragraph ( 1 ) ; 
(B) by striking out paragraph (2) and redesignating 
paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and 
(C) by striking out " ( A ) " and ", or (B) any unfair trade 
practice in or affecting such commerce" in paragraph (2) (as 
.redesignated by subparagraph ( B ) ) . 
(2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: 
"(c) The term 'antitrust investigation' means any inquiry con-
ducted by any antitrust investigator for the purpose of ascertain-
ing whether any person is or has been engaged in any antitrust 
violation or in any activities in preparation for a merger, acquisi-
tion, joint venture, or similar transaction, which, if consummated, 
may result in an antitrust violation;". 
(3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows: 
"(f) The term'person'means any natural person, partnership, 
corporation, association, or other legal entity, including any per-
son acting under color or authority of State law;". 
(4) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows: 
"(h) The term 'custodian' means the custodian or any deputy 
custodian designated under section 4(a) of this Act.". 
Post, p. 1387. 
90 STAT. 1384 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS 
SEC. 102. Section 3 of the Antitrust Civil Process Act (15 U.S.C. 
1312) is amended to read as follows: 
-
CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS 
, 
"SEC. 3. (a) Whenever the Attorney General, or the Assistant 
Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Depart-
ment of Justice, has resison to believe that any person may be in pos-
session, custody, or control of any documentary material, or may have 
' 
an^ information, relevant to a civil antitrust investigation, he may, 
prior to the institution of a civil or criminal proceeding thereon, issue 
in writing, and cause to be served upon such person, a civil investigative 
demand rec^uiring such person to produce such documentary material 
for inspection and copying or reproduction, to answer in writing 
written interrogatories, to give oral testimony concerning documen-
tary material or information, or to furnish any combination of such 
material, answers, or testimony. 
"(b) Each such demand shall— 
" (1) state the nature of— 
" (A) the conduct constituting the alleged antitrust viola-
tion, or 
"(B) the activities in preparation for a merger, acquisition, 
joint venture, or similar transaction, which, if consummated, 
may result in an antitrust violation, 
which are under investigation and the provision of law applicable 
thereto; 
Documentary 
"(2) if it is a demand for production of documentary material— 
material, 
" (A) describe the class or classes of documentary material 
production. 
^Q j^g produced thereunder with such definiteness and certainty 
as to permit such material to be fairly identified; 
"(B) prescribe a return date or dates which will provide a 
reasonable period of time within which the material so 
demanded may be assembled and made available for inspec-
tion and copying or reproduction; and 
"(C) identify the custodian to whom such material shall 
be made available; or 
"(3) if it is a demand for answers to written interrogatories— 
"(A) proj)ound with definiteness and certainty the written 
interrogatories to be answered; 
"(B) prescribe a date or dates at which time answers to 
written interrogatories shall be submitted; and 
"(C) identify the custodian to whom such answers shall be 
submitted; or 
Oral testimony. 
" (4) if it is a demand for the giving of oral testimony— 
"(A) prescribe a date, time, and place at which oral 
testimony shall be commenced; and 
"(B) identify an antitrust investigator who shall conduct 
the examination and the custodian to whom the transcript of 
such examination shall be submitted. 
"(c) No such demand shall require the production of any documen-
tary material, the submission of any answers to written interrogatories, 
or the giving of any oral testimony, if such material, answers, or testi-
mony would be protected from disclosure under— 
"(1) the standards applicable to subpenas or subpenas duces 
tecum issued h^ a court of the United States in aid of a grand 
jury investigation, or 
Interrogatories, 
answers. 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1385 
"(2) the standards applicable to discovery requests under the 
Federal Kules of Civil Procedure, to the extent that the applica-
tion of such standards to any such demand is appropriate and con-
sistent with the provisions and purposes of this Act. 
"(d) (1) Any such demand may be served by any antitrust investi-
gator, or by any United States marshal or deputy marshal, at any place 
within the territorial jurisdiction of any court of the United States. 
"(2) any such demand or any petition filed under section 5 of this 
Act may be served upon any person who is not to be found within the 
territorial jurisdiction of any court of the United States, in such man-
ner as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure prescribe for service in a 
foreign country. To the extent that the courts of the United States 
can assert jurisdiction over such person consistent with due process, the 
United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall have 
the same jurisdiction to take any action respecting compliance with 
this Act by such person that such court would have if such person 
were personally within the jurisdiction of such court. 
"(e) (1) Service of any such demand or of any petition filed under 
section 5 of this Act may be made upon a partnership, corporation, 
association, or other legal entity by— 
"(A) delivering a duly executed copy thereof to any partner, 
executive officer, managing agent, or general agent thereof, or to 
any agent thereof authorized by appointment or by law to receive 
service of process on behalf of such partnership, corporation, asso-
ciation, or entity ; 
"(B) delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the principal 
office or place of business of the partnership, corporation, associa-
tion, or entity to be served; or 
"(C) depositing such copy in the United States mails, by regis-
tered or certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed to 
such partnership, corporation, association, or entity at its prin-
cipal office or place of business. 
"(2) Service of any such demand or of any petition filed under sec-
tion 5 of this Act may be made upon any natural person by— 
"(A) delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the person to 
be served; or 
"(B) depositing such copy in the United States mails- by regis-
tered or certified mail, return receipt requested, duly addressed to 
such person at his residence or principal office or place of business. 
"(f) A verified return by the individual serving any such demand or 
petition setting forth the manner of such service shall be proof of such 
service. In the case of service by registered or certified mail, such 
return shall be accompanied by the return post office receipt of deliv-
ery of such demand. 
"(g) The production of documentary material in response to a 
demand served pursuant to this section shall be made under a sworn 
certificate, in such form as the demand designates, by the person, if 
a natural person, to whom the demand is directed or, if not a natural 
person, by a person or persons having knowledge of the facts and 
circumstances relating to such production, to the effect that all of the 
documentary material required by the demand and in the possession, 
custody, or control of the person to whom the demand is directed has 
been produced and made available to the custodian. 
"(h) Each interrogatory in a demand served pursuant to this 
section shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath, 
unless it is objected to, in which event the reasons for the objection 
shall be stated in lieu of an answer, and it shall be submitted under 
28 u s e app. 
Service. 
Jurisdiction. 
Service upon 
legal entities. 
Service upon 
natural person. 
Proof of service. 
90 STAT. 1386 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
Procedures 
governing oral 
examinations. 
Transcript. 
Certification. 
Copies. 
Right to counsel. 
a sworn certificate, in such form as the demand designates, by the 
person, if a natural person, to whom the demand is directed or, if not 
a natural person, by a person or persons responsible for answering 
each interrogatory, to the effect that all information required by the 
demand and in the possession, custody, control, or knowledge of the 
person to whom the demand is directed has been submitted. 
"(i) (1) The examination of any person pursuant to a demand for 
oral testimony served under this section shall be taken before an 
officer authorized to administer oaths and affirmations by the laws of 
the United States or of the place where the examination is held. The 
officer before whom the testimony is to be taken shall put the witness 
on oath or affirmation and shall personally, or by someone acting 
under his direction and in his presence, record the testimony of the 
witness. The testimony shall be taken stenographically and transcribed. 
When the testimony is fully transcribed, the officer before whom the 
testimony is taken shall promptly transmit a copy of the transcript 
of the testimony to the custodian. 
"(2) The antitrust investigator or investigators conducting the 
examination shall exclude from the place where the examination is 
held all other persons except the person being examined, his counsel, 
the officer before whom the testimony is to be taken, and any stenog-
rapher taking such testimony. The provisions of the Act of March 3, 
1913 (Ch. 114, 37 Stat. 731; 15 U.S.C. 30), shall not apply to such 
examinations. 
" (3) The oral testimony of any person taken pursuant to a demand 
served under this section shall be taken in the judicial district of the 
United States within which such person resides, is found, or transacts 
business, or in such other place as may be agreed upon by the antitrust 
investigator conducting the examination and such person. 
"(4) When the testimony is fully transcribed, the antitrust investi-
gator or the officer shall afford the witness (who may be accompanied 
by counsel) a reasonable opportunity to examine the transcript; and 
the transcript shall be read to or by the witness, unless such examina-
tion and reading are waived by the witness. Any changes in form or 
substance which the witness desires to make shall be entered and 
identified upon the transcript by the officer or the antitrust investiga-
tor with a statement of the reasons given by the witness for making 
such changes. The transcript shall then be signed by the witness, unless 
the witness in writing waives the signing, is ill, cannot be found, or 
refuses to sign. If the transcript is not signed by the witness within 
thirty days of his being afforded a reasonable opportunity to examine 
it, the officer or the antitrust investigator shall sign it and state on the 
record the fact of the waiver, illness, absence of the witness, or the 
refusal to sign, together with the reason, if any, given therefor. 
"(5) The officer shall certify on the transcript that the witness was 
duly sworn by him and that the transcript is a true record of the 
testimony given by the witness, and the officer or antitrust investigator 
shall promptly deliver it or send it by registered or certified mail to 
the custodian. 
"(6) Upon payment of reasonable charges therefor, the antitrust 
investigator shall furnish a copy of the transcript to the witness only, 
except that the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust 
Division may for good cause limit such witness to inspection of the 
official transcript of his testimony. 
"(7) (A) Any person compelled to appear under a demand for oral 
testimony pursuant to this section may be accompanied, represented, 
and advised by counsel. Counsel may advise such person, in confidence, 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1387 
either upon the request of such person or upon counsel's own initiative, 
with respect to any question asked of such person. Such person or 
counsel may object on the record to any question, in whole or in part, 
and shall briefly state for the record the reason for the objection. An 
objection may properly be made, received, and entered upon the record 
when it is claimed that such person is entitled to refuse to answer the 
question on grounds of any constitutional or other legal right or privi-
lege, including the privilege against self-incrimination. Such person 
shall not otherwise object to or refuse to answer any question, and 
shall not by himself or through counsel otherwise interrupt the oral 
examination. If such person refuses to answer any question, the anti-
trust investigator conducting the examination may petition the dis-
trict court of the United States pursuant to section 5 of this Act for Post, p. 1389. 
an order compelling such person to answer such question. 
"(B) If such person refuses to answer any question on grounds of 
the privilege against self-incrimination, the testimony of such person 
may be compelled in accordance with the provisions of part V of title 
18, United States Code. 
18 USC 6001. 
"(8) Any person appearing for oral examination pursuant to a Fees and mileage, 
demand served under this section shall be entitled to the same fees and 
mileage which are paid to witnesses in the district courts of the United 
States.". 
CUSTODIAN OF DOCUMENTS, ANSWERS, AND TRANSCRIPTS 
SEC. 103. Section 4 of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
15 USC 1313. 
"CUSTODIAN OF DOCUMENTS, ANSWERS, AND TRANSCRIPTS 
"SEC. 4. (a) The Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Anti-
trust Division of the Department of Justice shall designate an anti-
trust investigator to serve as custodian of documentary material, 
answers to interrogatories, and transcripts of oral testimony received 
under this Act, and such additional antitrust investigators as he shall 
determine from time to time to be necessary to serve as deputies to 
such officer. 
"(b) Any person, upon whom any demand under section 3 of this 
Act for the production of documentary material has been duly served, 
shall make such material available for inspection and copying or repro-
duction to the custodian designated therein at the principal place of 
business of such person (or at such other place as such custodian and 
such person thereafter may agree and prescribe in writing or as the 
court may direct, pursuant to section 5(d) of this Act) on the return 
date specified in such demand (or on such later date as such custodian 
may prescribe in writing). Such person may upon written agreement 
between such person and the custodian substitute copies for originals 
of all or any part of such material. 
" (c) (1) The custodian to whom any documentary material, answers 
to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony are delivered shall 
take physical possession thereof, and shall be responsible for the use 
made thereof and for the return of documentary material, pursuant to 
this Act. 
" (2) The custodian may cause the preparation of such copies of such 
documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of 
oral testimony as may be required for official use by any duly author-
ized official or employee of the Department of Justice under regula-
tions which shall be promulgated by the Attorney General. Notwith-
Documentary 
materials, 
availability. 
Ante, p. 1384. 
15 USC 1314. 
Responsibility for 
materials. 
Regulations; 
official use of 
materials. 
90 STAT. 1388 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
Disclosure, 
limitation. 
Documentary 
materials, 
availability to 
producer. 
Legal actions, use 
of investigative 
files. 
FTC investi-
gations or 
proceedings, 
use of 
investigative 
files. 
Documentary 
material, return 
to producer, 
limitation. 
standing paragraph (3) of this subsection, such material, answers, and 
transcripts may be used by any such official or employee in connection 
with the taking of oral testimony pursuant to this Act. 
"(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, while in the pos-
session of the custodian, no documentary material, answers to interrog-
atories, or transcripts of oral testimony, or copies thereof, so produced 
shall be available for examination, without the consent of the person 
who produced such material, answers, or transcripts, by any individ-
ual other than a duly authorized official or employee of the Department 
of Justice. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent disclosure to 
either body of the Congress or to any authorized committee or sub-
committee thereof. 
" (4) WTiile in the possession of the custodian and under such reason-
able terms and conditions as the Attorney General shall prescribe, (A) 
documentary material and answers to interrogatories shall be avail-
able for examination by the person who produced such material or 
answers, or by any duly authorized representative of such person, and 
(B) transcripts of oral testimony shall be available for examination by 
the person who produced such testimony, or his counsel. 
"(d) (1) Whenever any attorney of the Department of Justice has 
been designated to appear before any court, grand jury, or Federal 
administrative or regulatory agency in any case or proceeding, the cus-
todian of any documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or 
transcripts of oral testimony may deliver to such attorney such 
material, answers, or transcripts for official use in connection with any 
such case, grand jury, or proceeding as such attorney determines to be 
required. Upon the completion of any such case, grand jury, or pro-
ceeding, such attorney shall retTirn to the custodian any such material, 
answers, or transcripts so delivered which have not passed int-o the 
control of such court, grand jury, or agency through the introduction 
thereof into the record of such case or proceeding. 
"(2) The custodian of any documentary material, answers to inter-
rogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony may deliver to the Federal 
Trade Commission, in response to a written request, copies of such 
material, answers, or transcripts for use in connection with an investi-
gation or proceeding under the Commission's jurisdiction. Such mate-
rial, answers, or transcripts may only be used by the Commission in 
such manner and subject to such conditions as apply to the Department 
of Justice under this Act. 
"(e) If any documentary material has been produced in the course 
of any antitrust investigation by any person pursuant to a demand 
under this Act and— 
" (1) any case or proceeding before any court or grand jiiry aris-
ing out of such investigation, or any proceeding before any 
Federal administrative or regulatory agency involving such 
material, has been completed, or 
"(2) no case or proceeding, in which such material may be used, 
has been commenced within a reasonable time after completion 
of the examination and analysis of all documentary material and 
other information assembled in the course of such investigation* 
the custodian shall, upon written request of the person who produced 
such material, return to such person any such material (other than 
copies thereof furnished to the custodian pursuant to subsection (b) 
of this section or made by the Department of Justice pursuant to sub-
section (c) of this section) which has not passed into the control of 
any court, grand jury, or agency through the introduction thereof 
into the record of such case or proceeding. 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1389 
"(f) In the event of the death, disability, or separation from service 
in the Department of Justice of the custodian of any documentary 
material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony 
produced under any demand issued pursuant to this Act, or the official 
relief of such custodian from responsibility for the custody and con-
trol of such material, answers, or transcripts, the Assistant Attorney 
General in charge of the Antitrust Division shall promptly (1) desig-
nate another antitrust investigator to serve as custodian of such 
material, answers, or transcripts, and (2) transmit in writing to the 
person who produced such material, answers, or testimony notice as to 
the identity and address of the successor so designated. Any successor 
designated under this subsection shall have with regard to such mate-
rial, answers, or transcripts all duties and responsibilities imposed by 
this Act upon his predecessor in office with regard thereto, except that 
he shall not be held responsible for any default or dereliction which 
occurred prior to his designation.". 
Successor 
custodians, 
appointment 
Notice. 
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 
SEC. 104. (a) Section 5(a) of such Act is amended by striking out 15 USC 1314. 
", except that if" and all that follows down through the end of the 
sentence and inserting in lieu thereof a period. 
(b) The first sentence of subsection (b) of section 5 of such Act is 
amended to read as follows: "Within twenty days after the service of Order, filing, 
any such demand upon any person, or at any time before the return 
date specified in the demand, whichever period is shorter, or within 
such period exceeding twenty days after service or in excess of such 
return date as may be prescribed in writing, subsequent to service, by 
any antitrust investigator named in the demand, such person may file, 
in the district court of the United States for the judicial district within 
which such person resides, is found, or transacts business, and serve 
upon such antitrust investigator a petition for an order of such court 
modifying or setting aside such demand.". 
(c) The second sentence of subsection (b) of section 5 is amended by 
striking out the period at the end thereof and by inserting in lieu 
thereof: ", except that such person shall comply with any portions 
of the demand not sought to be modified or set aside.". 
(d) Subsection (c) of section 5 is amended by striking out "deliv-
ered" and inserting in lieu thereof "or answers to interrogatories deliv-
ered, or transcripts of oral testimony given". 
(e) Section 5 is further amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following: 
"(f) Any documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, Disclosure, 
or transcripts of oral testimony provided pursuant to any demand exemption, 
issued under this Act shall be exempt from disclosure under section 
552 of title 5, United States Code.". 
CRIMINAL PENALTY 
SEC. 105. The third paragraph of section 1505 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
"Whoever, with intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct com-
pliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative demand duly 
and properly made under the Antitrust Civil Process Act, willfully 
withholds, misrepresents, removes from any place, conceals, covers up, 
destroys, mutilates, alters, or by other means falsifies any documentary 
material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony, which 
is the subject of such demand; or attempts to do so or solicits another 
to do so; or". 
15 USC 1311 
note. 
90 STAT. 1390 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
15 use 1311 
SEC. 106. The amendments to the Antitrust Civil Process Act and 
note. 
to section 1505 of title 18, United States Code, made by this title shall 
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, except section 3(i) (8) 
Ante, p. 1384. 
of the Antitrust Civil Process Act (as amended by this Act) shall take 
effect on the later of (1) the date of enactment of this Act, or (2) 
October 1, 1976. Any such amendment which provides for the produc-
tion of documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or oral testi-
mony shall apply to any act or practice without regard to the date 
on which it occurred. 
TITLE II—PREMERGER NOTIFICATION 
NOTIFICATION AND WAITING PERIOD 
SEC. 201. The Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting immediately after section 7 of such Act the following new 
section: 
Filing. 
"SEC. 7A. (a) Except as exempted pursuant to subsection (c), no 
15 use 18a. 
person shall acquire, directly or indirectly, any voting securities or 
assets of any other person, unless both persons (or in the case of a 
tender offer, the acquiring person) file notification pursuant to rules 
under subsection (d) (1) and the waiting period described in subsec-
tion (b) (1) has expired, if— 
" (1) the acquiring person, or the person whose voting securities 
or assets are being acquired, is engaged in commerce or in any 
activity affecting commerce; 
"(2) (A) any voting securities or assets of a person engaged in 
manufacturing which has annual net sales or total assets of 
$10,000,000 or more are being acquired by any person which has 
total assets or annual net sales of $100,000,000 or more; 
"(B) any voting securities or assets of a person not engaged in 
manufacturing which has total assets of $10,000,000 or more are 
being acquired bv any person which has total assets or annual net 
sales of $100,000,000 or more; or 
"(C) any voting securities or assets of a person with annual 
net sales or total assets of $100,000,000 or more are being acquired 
by any person with total assets or annual net sales of $10,000,000 
or more; and 
"(3) as a result of such acquisition, the acquiring person would 
hold— 
"(A) 15 per centum or more of the voting securities or 
assets of the acquired person, or 
"(B) an aggregate total amount of the voting securities 
and assets of the acquired person in excess of $15,000,000. 
In the case of a tender offer, the person whose voting securities are 
sought to be acquired by a person required to file notification under 
this subsection shall file notification pursuant to rules under subsec-
tion (d). 
Waiting period. 
"(b) (1) The waiting period required under subsection (a) shall— 
"(A) begin on the date of the receipt by the Federal Trade 
Commission and the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the 
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (hereinafter re-
ferred to in this section as the 'Assistant Attorney General') of— 
"(i) the completed notification required under subsection 
(a), or 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1391 
"(ii) if such notification is not completed, the notification 
to the extent completed and a statement of the reasons for 
such noncompliance, 
from both persons, or, in the case of a tender offer, the acquiring 
person; and 
" ( B ) end on the thirtieth day after the date of such receipt (or 
in the case of a cash tender offer, the fifteenth day), or on such 
later date as. may be set under subsection (e) (2) or (g) (2). 
"(2) The Federal Trade Commission and the Assistant Attorney 
General may, in individual cases, terminate the waiting period speci-
fied in paragraph (1) and allow any person to proceed with any 
acquisition subject to this section, and promptly shall cause to be pub-
lished in the Federal Register a notice that neither intends to take 
any action within such period with respect to such acquisition. 
"(3) As used in this section— 
" ( A ) The term 'voting securities' means any securities which at 
present or upon conversion entitle the owner or holder thereof 
to vote for the election of directors of the issuer or, with respect 
to unincorporated issuers, persons exercising similar functions. 
"(B) The amount or percentage of voting securities or assets 
of a person which are acquired or held by another person shall be 
determined by aggregating the amount or percentage of such 
voting securities or assets held or acquired by such other person 
and each affiliate thereof. 
"(c) The following classes of transactions are exempt from the 
requirements of this section— 
" (1) acquisitions of goods or realty transferred in the ordinary 
course of business; 
"(2) acquisitions of bonds, mortgages, deeds of trust, or other 
obligations w hich are not voting securities; 
" (3) acquisitions of voting securities of an issuer at least 50 per 
centum of the voting securities of which are owned by the acquir-
ing person prior to such acquisition ; 
" (4) transfers to or from a Federal agency or a State or politi-
cal subdivision thereof; 
"(5) transactions specifically exempted from the antitrust laws 
by Federal statute; 
"(6) transactions specifically exempted from the antitrust laws 
by Federal statute if approved by a Federal agency, if copies of 
all information and documentary material filed with such agency 
are contemporaneously filed with the Federal Trade Commission 
and the Assistant Attorney General; 
"(7) transactions which require agency approval under section 
18(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c)), 
or section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1842); 
"(8) transactions which require agency approval under sec-
tion 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1843), section 403 or 408(e) of the N"ational Housing Act (12 
U.S.C. 1726 and 1730a), or section 5 of the Home Owners' Loan 
Act of 1933 (12 U.S.C. 1464), if copies of all information and 
documentary material filed with any such agency are contem-
poraneously filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the 
Assistant Attorney General at least 30 days prior to consummation 
of the proposed transaction ; 
"(9) acquisitions, solely for the purpose of investment, of 
voting securities, if, as a result of such acquisition, the securities 
Waiting period, 
termination. 
Publication in 
Federal Register. 
"Voting 
securities.' 
Exempt 
transactions. 
90 STAT. 1392 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
Rules. 
Acquisitions, 
additional 
information. 
Waiting period, 
extension. 
acquired or held do not exceed 10 per centum of the outstanding 
voting securities of the issuer; 
"(10) acquisitions of voting securities, if, as a result of such 
acquisition, the voting securities acquired do not increase, directly 
or indirectly, the acquiring person's per centum share of outstand-
ing voting securities of the issuer; 
(11) accfuisitions, solely for the purpose of investment, by any 
bank, banking association, trust company, investment company, 
or insurance company, of (A) voting securities pursuant to a plan 
of reorganization or dissolution; or (B) assets in the ordinary 
course of its business; and 
" (12) such other acquisitions, transfers, or transactions, as may 
be exempted under subsection (d)(2)(B). 
"(d) The Federal Trade Commission, with the concurrence of the 
Assistant Attorney General and by rule in accordance with section 553 
of title 5, United States Code, consistent with the purposes of this 
section— 
"(1) shall require that the notification required under subsec-
tion (a) be in such form and contain such documentary material 
and information relevant to a proposed acquisition as is necessary 
and appropriate to enable the Federal Trade Commission and the 
Assistant Attorney General to determine whether such acquisition 
may, if consummated, violate the antitrust laws; and 
"(2) may— 
" (A) define the terms used in this section; 
"(B) exempt, from the requirements of this section, classes 
of persons, acquisitions, transfers, or transactions which are 
not likely to violate the antitrust laws; and 
"(C) prescribe such other rules as may be necessary and 
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. 
"(e) (1) The Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney 
General may, prior to the expiration of the 30-day waiting period 
(or in the case of a cash tender offer, the 15-day waiting period) 
specified in subsection (b) (1) of this section, require the submission 
of additional information or documentary material relevant to the 
proposed acquisition, from a person required to file notification with 
respect to such acquisition under subsection (a) of this section prior 
to the expiration of the waiting period specified in subsection (b) (1) 
of this section, or from any officer, director, partner, agent, or 
employee of such person. 
"(2) The Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney 
General, in its or his discretion, may extend the 30-day waiting period 
(or in the case of a cash tender offer, the 15-day waiting period) speci-
fied in subsection (b) (1) of this section for an additional period of 
not more than 20 days (or in the case of a cash tender offer, 10 days) 
after the date on which the Federal Trade Commission or the Assist-
ant Attorney General, as the case may be, receives from any person 
to whom a request is made under paragraph (1), or in the case of ten-
der offers, the acquiring person, (A) all the information and documen-
tary material required to be submitted pursuant to such a request, or 
(B) if such request is not fully complied with, the information and 
documentary material submitted and a statement of the reasons for 
such noncompliance. Such additional period may be further extended 
only by the United States district court, upon an application by the 
Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney General pursu-
ant to subsection (g) (2). 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1393 
" (f) If a proceeding is instituted or an action is filed by the Federal 
Trade Commission, alleging that a proposed acquisition violates sec-
tion 7 of this Act or section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, or 15 USC 18,45. 
an action is filed by the United States, alleging that a proposed acqui-
sition violates such section 7 or section 1 or 2 of the Sherman Act, and 15 USC 1, 2. 
the Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney General (1) 
files a motion for a preliminary injunction against consummation of 
such acquisition pendente lite, and (2) certifies to the United States 
district court for the judicial district within which the respondent 
resides or carries on business, or in which the action is brought, that 
it or he believes that the public interest requires relief pendente lite 
pursuant to this subsection— 
"(A) upon the filing of such motion and certification, the chief 
judge of such district court shall immediately notify the chief 
judge of the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which 
such district court is located, who shall designate a United States 
district judge to whom such action shall be assigned for all pur-
poses ; and 
"(B) the motion for a preliminary injunction shall be set down 
for hearing by the district judge so designated at the earliest prac-
ticable time, shall take precedence over all matters except older 
matters of the same character and trials pursuant to section 3161 
of title 18, United States Code, and shall be in every way 
expedited. 
" (s) (1) -^^y person, or any officer, director, or partner thereof, who Civil penalty, 
fails to comply with any provision of this section shall be liable to the 
United States for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day 
during which such person is in violation of this section. Such penalty 
may be recovered in a civil action brought by the United States. 
(2) If any person, or any officer, director, partner, agent, or Compliance, 
employee thereof, fails substantially to comply with the notification 
requirement under subsection (a) or any request for the submission of 
additional information or documentary material under subsection 
(e) (1) of this section within the waiting period specified in subsection 
(b) (1) and as may be extended under subsection (e) (2), the United 
States district court— 
" (A) may order compliance; 
"(B) shall extend the waiting period specified in subsection 
(b) (1) and as may have been extended under subsection (e) (2) 
until there has been substantial compliance, except that, in the 
, .^. . 
case of a tender offer, the court may not extend such waiting period 
on the basis of a failure, by the person whose stock is sought to 
be acquired, to comply substantially with such notification require-
ment or any such request; and 
"(C) may grant such other equitable relief as the court in its 
discretion determines necessary or appropriate, 
upon application of the Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant 
Attorney General. 
"(h) Any information or documentary material filed with the Disclosure 
Assistant Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission pur- exemption, 
suant to this section shall be exempt from disclosure under section 562 
of title 5, United States Code, and no such information or documentary 
material may be made public, except as may be relevant to any admin-
istrative or judicial action or proceeding. Nothing in this section is 
intended to prevent disclosure to either body of Congress or to any 
duly authorized committee or subcommittee of the Congress. 
90 STAT. 1394 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
15 use 1311 
note. 
15 use 58. 
Report to 
eongress. 
Legislative 
recommenda-
tions. 
"(i) (1) Any action taken by the Federal Trade Commission or the 
Assistant Attorney General or any failure of the Federal Trade Com-
mission or the Assistant Attorney General to take any action under 
this section shall not bar any proceeding or any action with respect to 
such acquisition at any time under any other section of this Act or any 
other provision of law. 
"(2) Nothing contained in this section shall limit the authority of 
the Assistant Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission to 
secure at any time from any person documentary material, oral testi-
mony, or other information under the Antitrust Civil Process Act, the 
Federal Trade Commission Act, or any other provision of law. 
"(j) Beginning not later than January 1, 1978, the Federal Trade 
Commission, with the concurrence of the Assistant Attorney General, 
shall annually report to the Congress on the operation of this section. 
Such report shall include an assessment of the effects of this section, 
of the effects, purpose, and need for any rules promulgated pursuant 
thereto, and any recommendations for revisions of this section.". 
15 u s e 18a note. 
Ante, p. 1390. 
15 u s e 18a. 
EFFECTIVE DATES 
SEC. 202. (a) The amendment made by section 201 of this Act shall 
take effect 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act, except that 
subsection (d) of section 7A of the Clayton Act (as added by section 
201 of this Act) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
TITLE III—PARENS PATRIAE 
15 use 15c. 
15 use 1-7. 
Treble damage 
awards. 
eosts. 
Notice, 
publication. 
PARENS PATRIAE ACTIONS BY STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL 
SEC. 301. The Clayton Act is amended by inserting immediately 
following section 4B the following new sections: 
li ACTIONS BY STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL 
"SEC. 4C. (a) (1) Any attornev general of a State may bring a 
civil action in the name of such State, as parens patriae on behalf of 
natural persons residing in such State, in any district court of the 
United States having jurisdiction of the defendant, to secure monetary 
relief as provided in this section for injury sustained by such natural 
persons to their property by reason of any violation of the Sherman 
Act. The court shall exclude from the amount of monetary relief 
awarded in such action any amount of monetary relief (A) which 
duplicates amounts which have been awarded for the same injury, or 
(B) which is properly allocable to (i) natural persons who have 
excluded their claims pursuant to subsection (b) (2) of this section, 
and (ii) any business entity. 
"(2) The court shall award the State as monetary relief threefold 
the total damage sustained as described in paragraph (1) of this 
subsection, and the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee. 
"(b)(1) In any action brought under subsection (a)(1) of this 
section, the State attorney general shall, at such times, in such manner, 
and with such content as the court may direct, cause notice thereof 
to be given by publication. If the court finds that notice given solely 
by publication would deny due process of law to any person or persons, 
the court may direct further notice to such person or persons according 
to the circumstances of the case. 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1395 
"(2) Any person on whose behalf an action is brought under Monetary relief, 
subsection (a) (1) may elect to exclude from adjudication the portion exclusion, 
of the State claim for monetary relief attributable to him by filing ^ 
notice of such election with the court within such time as specified in 
the notice given pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. 
"(3) The final judgment in an action under subsection (a) (1) shall Final judgment, 
be res judicata as to any claim under section 4 of this Act by any 
person on behalf of whom such action was brought and who fails to 
give such notice within the period specified in the notice given pursuant 
to paragraph (1) of this subsection. 
"(c) An action under subsection (a) (1) shall not be dismissed or 
compromised without the approval of the court, and notice of any 
proposed dismissal or compromise shall be given in such manner as 
the court directs. 
"(d) Inany action under subsection (a)— 
"(1) the amount of the plaintiffs' attorney's fee, if any, shall 
be determined by the court; and 
"(2) the court may, in its discretion, award a reasonable attor-
ney's fee to a prevailing defendant upon a finding that the State 
attorney general has acted in bad faith, vexatiously, wantonly, 
or for oppressive reasons. 
Dismissal or 
compromise of 
action, notice. 
Attorneys' fees. 
"MEASUREMENT OF DAMAGES 
"SEC. 4D. In any action under section 4C(a)(l), in which there 
has been a determination that a defendant agreed to fix prices in 
violation of the Sherman Act, damages may be proved and assessed 
in the aggregate by statistical or sampling methods, by the computa-
tion of illegal overcharges, or by such other reasonable system of 
estimating aggregate damages as the court in its discretion may permit 
without the necessity of separately proving the individual claim of, 
or amount of damage to, persons on whose behalf the suit was brought. 
15 use 15d. 
15 use 1-7. 
DISTRIBUTION OF DAMAGES 
"SEG. 4 E , Monetary relief recovered in an action under section 15 USC 15e. 
4C (a)(1) shall— 
"(1) be distributed in such manner as the district court in its 
discretion may authorize; or 
"(2) be deemed a civil penalty by the cx)urt and deposited with 
the State as general revenues; 
subject in either case to the requirement that any distribution proce-
dure adopted afford each person a reasonable opportunity to secure his 
appropriate portion of the net monetary relief. 
"ACTIONS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES 
"SEC. 4 F . (a) Whenever the Attorney General of the United States Notification, 
has brought an action under the antitrust laws, and he has reason to 15 USC 15f. 
believe that any State attorney general would be entitled to bring an 
action under this Act based substantially on the same alleged violation 
of the antitrust laws, he shall promptly give written notification 
thereof to such State attorney general. 
"(b) To assist a State attorney general in evaluating the notice or Investigative 
in bringing any action under this Act, the Attorney General of the fi^^S' availability. 
United States shall, upon request by such State attorney general, make 
90 STAT. 1396 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
i * : , 
available to him, to the extent permitted by law, any investigative files 
or other materials which are or may be relevant or material to the 
actual or potential cause of action under this Act. 
"DEFINITIONS 
15 use 15g. 
«SEC. 4G. For the purposes of sections 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F of this 
Act: 
"(1) The term 'State attorney general' means the chief legal 
officer of a State, or any other person authorized by State law to 
bring actions under section 4C of this Act, and includes the Corpo-
;, 
ration Counsel of the District of Columbia, except that such term 
does not include any person employed or retained on— 
" (A) a contingency fee based on a percentage of the mone-
tary relief awarded under this section; or 
' ( B ) any other contingency fee basis, unless the amount of 
the award of a reasonable attorney's fee to a prevailing plain-
tiff is determined by the court under section 4C(d) (1). 
"(2) The term 'State' means a State, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or 
possession of the United States. 
"(3) The term 'natural persons' does not include proprietor-
ships or partnerships. 
- 
' 
"APPLICABILITT OF PARENS PATRIAE ACTIONS 
15 use 15h. 
"SEC. 4 H . Sections 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, and 4G shall apply in any State, 
unless such State provides by law for its nonapplicability in such 
State.". 
CONFORMING AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 302. The Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.), is amended— 
(1) in section 4B (15 U.S.C. 15b), by striking out "sections 4 or 
4A" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 4, 4A, or 4C" ; 
(2) in section 5(i) (15 U.S.C. 16(i)), by striking out "private 
right of action" and inserting in lieu thereof "private or State 
right of action"; and by striking out "section 4" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "section 4 or 4C"; and 
(3) by adding at the end of section 16 (15 U.S.C. 26) the fol-
lowing: "In any action under this section in which the plaintiff 
substantially prevails, the court shall award the cost of suit, 
including a reasonable attorney's fee, to such plaintiff.". 
CONSOLIDATION 
SEC. 303. Section 1407 of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
28 use 1404. 
"(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1404 or subsection 
(f) of this section, the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation may 
consolidate and transfer with or without the consent of the parties, 
for both pretrial purposes and for trial, any action brought under 
Ante, p. 1394. 
section 4C of the Clayton Act. 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
15 use 15c note. 
SEC. 304. The amendments to the Clayton Act made by section 301 
of this Act shall not apply to any injury sustained prior to the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 94-435—SEPT. 30, 1976 
90 STAT. 1397 
SHORT TITLES FOR CERTAIN ANTITRUST LAWS 
SEC. 305. (a) The Act entitled "An Act to protect trade and com- 15 USC 1 note, 
merce against unlawful restraints and monopolies", approved July 2, 
1890 (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), is amended by adding immediately after 
the enacting clause the following: "That this Act may be cited as 
the'Sherman Act'.". 
(b) The Act entitled "An Act to supplement existing laws against 
unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other purposes", approved 
October 15, 1914 (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.), is amended by— 
(1) inserting "(a)" after "That" in the first section; and 
(2) adding at the end of the first section the following new 
subsection: 
"(b) This Act may be cited as the'Clayton Act'.". 
(c) The Act entitled "An Act to promote export trade, and for 
other purposes", approved April 10, 1918 (40 Stat. 516; 15 U.S.C. 61 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
section: 
"SEC. 6. This Act may be cited as the 'Webb-Pomerene Act'.". 
15 USC 66. 
(d) The Act entitled "An Act to reduce taxation, to provide revenue 
for the Government, and for other purposes", approved August 27, 
1894 (28 Stat. 509; 15 U.S.C. 8 et seq.), is amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following new section: 
"SEC. 78. Sections 73, 74, 75, 76, and 77 of this Act may be cited as 15 USC 8 note, 
the 'Wilson Tariff Act'.". 
Approved September 30, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS No. 94-499, No. 94-499, Part 2, No. 94-1343 accompanying H.R. 
13489, and No. 94-1373 accompanying H.R. 14580 (all from 
Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-803 accompanying S. 1284 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 122 (1976): 
Mar. 18, considered and passed House. 
May 25, 27, 28, June 3, 4, 7-10, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Aug. 2, H.R. 13489 and H.R. 14580 considered and passed House. 
Aug. 24, House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment. 
Aug. 27, 30, 31, Sept. 7, 8, Senate agreed to House amendment with an 
amendment. 
Sept. 16, House agreed to Senate amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 12, No. 40: 
Sept. 30, Presidential statement.