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ARTICLE · 05 MARCH 2026

Fewer Roadblocks For M&A: Politics Play Into Lighter Touch Merger Control Enforcement

A&O Shearman
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2025 marked the start of a major transition for global merger control enforcement. Influenced by political agendas pushing for economic growth, investment, and innovation, antitrust authorities in key jurisdictions adopted a more balanced approach to M&A...

GlobalAntitrust/Competition Law
Dominic Long
Dominic Long
Noah Brumfield
Noah Brumfield
Peter McDonald
Peter McDonald
Francesca Miotto
Francesca Miotto
Louise Tolley
Louise Tolley
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2025 marked the start of a major transition for global merger control enforcement. Influenced by political agendas pushing for economic growth, investment, and innovation, antitrust authorities in key jurisdictions adopted a more balanced approach to M&A. The result: fewer transactions are being frustrated, and the outlook is (generally) more positive for dealmaking.

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Between 2022 and 2024, the total number of deals prohibited or abandoned due to antitrust concerns rose steadily in the jurisdictions surveyed. In a clear about-turn, this figure dropped by over half to 16 in 2025. Antitrust authorities only blocked eight transactions, and their concerns caused parties to walk away in a further eight cases.

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