How the end of the transition period affects UK merger control

 

The CMA has published a blog titled: "How the end of the Transition Period affects UK merger control". The changes take effect from 1 January 2021.

The practical result is that some of the biggest cross-border transactions which were previously subject to exclusive review by the European Commission, can now also be subject to UK merger control review.

The European Commission will be responsible for merger cases that were notified to the Commission before the end of the transition period.

The CMA will not now open its own investigation into ongoing Phase II EU cases including London Stock Exchange Group/Refinitiv or AON/Willis Towers Watson.

The CMA can review transactions that were not notified to the Commission before the end of the transition period, provided that the UK threshold tests are met.

A number of transactions that were announced in 2020 but which have not yet been notified to the European Commission, will now fall to the CMA for review.

The CMA recommends that businesses affected by these developments should take legal advice on their position.

https://competitionandmarkets.blog.gov.uk/2021/01/06/how-the-end-of-the-transition-period-affects-uk-merger-control/