Merger Control Reviews Speed Up (At Least For Straightforward Cases)

Speeding up review periods remained a priority for antitrust authorities outside the U.S. They did this through formal rule changes or adjustments in practice. But the increasing complexity of the issues raised by some deals, combined with the appetite of certain authorities to challenge and intervene, has led to lengthier investigations in key jurisdictions.

Authorities' efforts have paid off, at least for initial stage reviews. For the first time since 2020, the average time to get an unconditional clearance at phase 1—by far the most likely outcome of a merger review—dropped to 21 working days across the jurisdictions surveyed.

Average review periods in phase 1 cases ending in remedies have also fallen to 74 working days, the lowest we have seen in three years.