The Proposed Widening Scope of UK Merger Control

The UK Government’s responses to its consultations on ‘Reforming competition and consumer policy’ (April 2022) and ‘A new pro-competitive regime for digital markets’ (May 2022) included three proposals to amend or add jurisdictional or reporting criteria for the UK merger control regime. These would give the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversight of a wider range of mergers if implemented.

The reforms will be included in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill which is due to be published in draft form in the 2022/2023 Parliamentary session (the Draft Bill). It is not expected to be introduced to Parliament before the 2023/2024 session at the earliest.

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