By Katherine Hamilton


The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against KKR alleging the private equity company made improper pre-merger filings, which could cost it more than $650 million in penalties, the agency said Tuesday.

The civil lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges KKR didn't adequately fill out pre-merger filings for at least 16 transactions in 2021 and 2022. The allegations would mean the company evaded antitrust scrutiny, which is a violation of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Specifically, the DOJ alleged KKR altered documents in filings to the antitrust division and omitted required documents. The company also didn't submit a filing before beginning two acquisitions worth $6.9 billion and up to $919 million, the department alleged.

KKR on Tuesday filed its own lawsuit against Acting Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki. The company's complaint alleges the DOJ is abusing its power and applying the HSR Act unconstitutionally.

The company said the alleged paperwork errors were inadvertent and not intentional attempts to circumvent antitrust review.

"We are confident all our filings provided the government with the necessary information to fully assess each transaction," said KKR spokesperson Kristi Huller.


Write to Katherine Hamilton at katherine.hamilton@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-14-25 1246ET