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Ireland: With new watchdog in place, officials turn to merger regime

By  |  November 5, 2014

Ireland launched its new competition authority this week, and now regulators are taking the next step to eye possible changes to the merger review process.

The nation’s Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency merged to form the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Experts say the regulatory shake-up will likely lead to changes in how major mergers are reviewed; the CCPC has already implemented new financial thresholds for notifying merger plans to authorities, say reports.

Those thresholds, lowered to a minimum of $3.75 million in annual turnover, mean much smaller businesses will need to secure regulatory clearance before they move forward with transactions.

Reports say merger review timelines have also been extended.

Full content: Irish Times

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