Securities Exchange Act 1934: Primary federal legislation governing securities trading, requiring registration of exchanges, brokers, transferred securities, and establishing reporting requirements for publicly traded companies
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act: Requires companies to file pre-merger notifications with FTC and DOJ for antitrust review when size thresholds are met
Securities Act 1933: Regulates the offering of securities to the public, requiring registration and detailed disclosure requirements
Clayton Antitrust Act: Prohibits specific anticompetitive practices, supplements Sherman Act, and regulates mergers that may substantially lessen competition
Sherman Antitrust Act: Foundational antitrust law prohibiting monopolistic business practices and anticompetitive mergers
Williams Act: Regulates tender offers and other takeover-related activities, requiring specific disclosures and procedural requirements
State Corporate Laws: State-specific laws governing corporate formation, operation, and merger procedures (particularly Delaware General Corporation Law)
Blue Sky Laws: State-level securities laws requiring registration of securities offerings and protecting against fraudulent practices
SEC Regulations: Federal agency rules governing securities markets, including disclosure requirements, trading practices, and merger procedures
FTC/DOJ Guidelines: Federal agency guidelines for antitrust review of mergers and acquisitions, including market concentration analysis
Stock Exchange Rules: NYSE/NASDAQ listing requirements and trading rules affecting public company mergers
Fiduciary Duty Laws: Legal obligations of directors and officers to act in the best interests of shareholders during merger transactions
CFIUS Regulations: Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States regulations governing national security review of foreign investments
Industry-Specific Regulations: Sector-specific rules and approvals (e.g., FCC for telecommunications, Federal Reserve for banking mergers)
