Commission Publishes White Paper On Minority Shareholding Acquisitions And Case Referrals

On 9 July 2014, the European Commission adopted a White Paper and opened a public consultation to consider possible new procedures that would allow the Commission to review acquisitions of non-controlling minority shareholdings under the EU merger control rules.  The White Paper also outlines proposed changes to the rules on the referral of merger cases between the Commission and the EU Member States.  Lastly, the White Paper suggests various other simplifications to the EU merger control procedure.  The proposals contained in the White Paper, if adopted, would constitute the most significant changes to EU merger control since the regime was overhauled in 2004.

Acquisitions of non-controlling minority shareholdings