Press Release: Mergers: Commission launches public consultation on draft Merger Guidelines for companies in a vertical or conglomerate relationship

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on draft Guidelines for the assessment of mergers between companies that are in a so-called vertical or conglomerate relationship (also known as "non-horizontal mergers"). Such mergers are aimed at broadening a company's activities either by merging with a company at another level of the supply chain (vertical merger) or with a company active in a separate but related market (conglomerate merger). Interested parties are invited to submit their comments on the draft Guidelines by 12 May 2007. Following the consultations, the definitive version of the Guidelines will be adopted by the Commission. The Guidelines will then serve to provide guidance to companies envisaging such types of merger.