First Application Of Danish Call-in Merger Control Rules

The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has for the first time applied the Danish call-in rules on transactions not exceeding the Danish merger control thresholds.

In July 2024, the Danish Competition Act was amended to give the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority ("DCCA") the power to call in for review transactions which do not exceed the merger control thresholds, provided that (i) the parties have a combined Danish turnover of at least DKK 50 million (approx. EUR 6.5 million), and (ii) the DCCA finds that the transaction entails a risk of a significant impediment of effective competition (a "SIEC").

The DCCA has now used this new power for the first time – and in fact issued two call-in decisions in just two days.