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ARTICLE · 30 JANUARY 2025

U.K. Merger Control Reforms

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The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 will make important changes to the U.K. merger control thresholds and process

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Dominic Long
Dominic Long
Thomas Masterman
Thomas Masterman
Matthew Readings
Matthew Readings
David Weaver
David Weaver
James Webber
James Webber
Louise Tolley
Louise Tolley
Emily Bourne
Emily Bourne
Imogen Carr
Imogen Carr
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The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 will make important changes to the U.K. merger control thresholds and process. Most of these changes will take effect on January 1, 2025. There are eight headline points.

1. No change to voluntary and non-suspensory merger review process

  • The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will continue to actively review markets and call in transactions it considers may raise antitrust concerns. It will impose strict "hold separate" obligations, particularly in completed deals.

Merger control thresholds summary

The new thresholds will not apply to deals completed before January 1, 2025 or anticipated deals where the CMA's phase 1 review started before January 1, 2025.

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