How did the Compass-Anywhere deal get cleared so quickly?
RealEstateNews.com••business
Key Points:
- Compass's $1.6 billion acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate was expected to face antitrust review until mid-2026, with initial company statements reflecting this timeline.
- Concerns were raised by two U.S. senators and an investigative report about potential antitrust violations due to the companies' combined market share in key metropolitan areas.
- On January 7, key regulatory hurdles were cleared, and the deal was completed two days later, surprising many industry observers.
- The Wall Street Journal revealed that Compass bypassed the DOJ antitrust division head by appealing directly to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who allowed the deal to proceed without a full investigation.
- Compass enlisted Trump-aligned lawyer Mike Davis, known for assisting companies in government
