European Commission Adopts Reforms To Merger Notification Forms And Simplified Procedure

On 5 December 2013, the European Commission adopted a package of reforms to simplify the EU merger control process by reducing red tape. This follows a consultation launched by the Commission on 27 March 2013, proposing changes to the Merger Implementing Regulation, the merger notification forms (Form CO and Short Form), and the Notice on the simplified procedure (see VBB on Competition Law, Volume 2013, No. 4, available at www.vbb.com). Following the consultation, the Commission has now adopted most of these changes.

Changes to the Notice on the simplified procedure are largely as proposed in the consultation. Most notably, market share thresholds below which transactions are eligible for the simplified procedure have been adjusted upwards: from 15% to 20% combined share in markets with horizontal overlaps, and from 25% to 30% individual or combined share in the case of markets with vertical relationships. In addition, as proposed, concentrations are also eligible