CMA consults on revised merger assessment guidelines

CMA consults on revised merger assessment guidelines

 

The Competition and Markets Authority is consulting on a revised version of its merger assessment guidelines (CMA129).

The revised guidelines propose a number of material changes as well as streamlining.

They aim aid to provide greater clarity on how the CMA will assess evidence, particularly evidence in fast-moving markets.

The revised guidelines also provide for greater flexibility in assessment of the time horizon for counterfactuals exiting firms, and vertical foreclosure effects.

They also seek to address the recommendations of the Furman and Lear report on digital markets.

The revised guidelines also propose simplifying the need to define markets. This may allow the CMA to find a substantial lessening of competition without necessarily making a separate relevant market definition.

The CMA is seeking responses by 8 January 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/consultation-launched-on-cma-merger-assessment-guidelines?=0