Merger control in Europe. EU, Member States and Accession States, 4th ed.

Abstract:

Significant changes in the national merger control regimes of Denmark, France, Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom indicate the continuing evolution of merger control in Europe, and these will be supplemented by a new EU Merger Regulation. This is set to introduce the most far-reaching reform of European merger control since the adoption of the EC Merger Regulation in December 1989.

This work aims to offer an introduction to the issues of merger control relevant to the preparation for an acquisition within the European Union. It presents insights into problem areas at the national level and offers comparisons for each of the fourteen EU countries with a merger control regime, as well as one on the EU itself. It also has contributions from new Member States Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Cyprus.

The separate jurisdictions are subjected to scrutiny in the following common areas:

• Definition of concentrations
• Joint ventures
• Notification thresholds
• Mandatory or optional notification and sanctions
• Time-limits for notification
• Procedural time-frame and suspension requirements
• Substantive tests
• Competent authorities.

The work will interest scholars and practitioners engaged in the field of mergers and acquisitions in Europe.