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ARTICLE · 04 JUNE 2026

Major Reform Of French Merger Control Notification Thresholds Effective September 1, 2026

McDermott Will & Schulte
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France has substantially increased its merger control notification thresholds, marking the first major reform in over two decades. The new thresholds, which take effect September 1, 2026...

FranceAntitrust/Competition Law
Frédéric Pradelles
Frédéric Pradelles
Francesca Casalone
Francesca Casalone
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On May 26, 2026, France adopted a significant reform of its merger control regime by substantially increasing the turnover thresholds that trigger mandatory notification to the French Competition Authority (the FCA).

The key takeaways from this reform are as follows:

  • The new thresholds are introduced by Article 24 of Law No. 2026-403 of May 26, 2026 on the simplification of economic life, published in the Official Journal on May 27, 2026. They will enter into force on September 1, 2026 and will apply to all transactions notified to the FCA from that date.
  • The reform is expected to reduce the regulatory burden associated with a number of mid-sized transactions that would previously have required clearance in France.

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