Private Equity M&A Moves Will Face Sharper Focus From Regulators

US antitrust regulators are directing their gaze on the role of private capital in mergers and acquisitions as they scrutinize the strategies of an industry involved in an increasing share of deals.

The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department’s Oct. 10 updates to a merger notification program will require disclosures that the regulators say will shed more light on private equity firms and minority investors.

The new rule requires dealmakers to divulge a variety of details about the ownership structures of companies involved in a transaction, a change “clearly aimed at private equity,” said Mike Keeley, head of Axinn, Veltrop ...