Celler-Kefauver Act

What Is the Celler-Kefauver Act?

The Celler-Kefauver Act is one of several U.S. laws designed to prevent certain mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from creating monopolies or otherwise significantly reducing competition in the United States. It was passed in 1950 to strengthen existing antitrust laws and close loopholes present in the Clayton Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Understanding the Celler-Kefauver Act

The Celler-Kefauver Act, occasionally referred to as the Anti-Merger Act, extended antitrust laws to cover all types of mergers across industries. It went further than the previously enacted antitrust laws, the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 and the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, which only tried to limit horizontal mergers within the same sector, by targeting vertical and conglomerate mergers as well.

In vertical mergers, companies on different tiers of a supply chain join forces, which can be an antitrust problem if a company is buying its competitors’ suppliers. In conglomerate mergers, on the other hand, two companies that are involved in different sectors or geographic areas merge together to expand their markets by extending the corporate territory and product range. Both types of mergers raise the barriers to entry by making competitors internalize more production to match the cost savings that come from economies of scale.

Aside from targeting acquisitions involving companies that aren't direct competitors, the Celler-Kefauver Act also sought to close out another notable loophole present under the old regime. Former antitrust legislation provided controls on certain M&A, although this only applied to buying outstanding stock. In other words, prior to the introduction of the Celler-Kefauver Act, antitrust rules could largely be circumvented by only purchasing the assets of the target firm.

Example of the Celler-Kefauver Act

An example of a vertical merger that could come under regulatory scrutiny might include a vendor company merging with a customer company. The Celler-Kefauver Act may be invoked on the grounds that the government thinks the transaction creates entry barriers and or prevents potential consumers from fair access to other companies with similar products.

Meanwhile, to challenge a conglomerate merger, the act makes the case that a company is using its success, resources, and money from one market to create a monopoly over another market.

Special Considerations

Modern digital, and high tech businesses and industries are reigniting debates surrounding U.S. antitrust laws, prompting speculation that new regulations might be forthcoming.