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ARTICLE · 05 OCTOBER 2018

Merger Control

Arthur Cox
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The Guide is in a user-friendly Q&A format and covers the essentials on competition clearances for mergers and acquisitions in multiple jurisdictions, including Ireland.

IrelandCorporate/Commercial Law
Richard Ryan
Richard Ryan
Patrick Horan
Patrick Horan
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1. Overview

Merger control in Ireland is governed by the Competition Act 2002, which has been amended a number of times (the "Competition Act"), most significantly by the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 ("2014 Act"). The 2014 Act substantially reformed the merger process in Ireland, introducing new jurisdictional thresholds, updating the specific regime for media mergers and establishing a new national competition authority, the Competition and Consumer Commission ("CCPC").

The CCPC amalgamated the functions of and replaced the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency from 31 October 2014. In relation to merger control, the CCPC has extensive legal powers and a broad mandate to examine mergers and acquisitions that fall under the Competition Act. The CCPC has maintained a busy workload since its establishment, issuing 68 determinations on transactions it assessed in 2017, according to its most recent Mergers & Acquisitions Report.

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This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.

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