Get Set For Increased French Merger Control Thresholds

In May 2026, a French bill was enacted that provides for an increase in the thresholds triggering merger control review by the French competition authority (FCA). The change—which will take effect on September 1, 2026 —is intended to slash the number of deals subject to FCA review. It should therefore reduce the administrative burden on companies, facilitating faster deal execution. For the FCA, it will enable a more efficient allocation of resources, allowing the authority to focus on the cases most likely to impact competition.  

A change called for by the FCA for years 

The French merger control thresholds have remained unchanged since their introduction around 20 years ago, despite significant developments in the economic environment. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of transactions notified to the FCA. The FCA reports that, between 2010 and 2025, the number of filings rose by 59%.