EU Merger Control

Hear from Guillaume Loriot, Deputy Director General, Merger, DG Comp, European Commission on their policy and enforcement priorities.

Join the debate on the role of politics and industrial policy in EU merger control. During this lively discussion, we will examine whether DG Comp is too focused on merger control in the digital sector at the expense of industrial policy. Should the approach to merger control be more sensitive to industrial aims? EU vs National champions: what are the issues at stake?  

Analyse the Commission’s Communication on Guidance of referrals under Article 22 EUMR and the Commission’s ongoing review. What are the expected changes to the procedural and jurisdictional aspects of merger control?

Consider the implications of the Digital Markets Act and UK’s Digital Markets Taskforce advice for merger control in the digital economy. Review the joint statement on merger control enforcement published by the CMA, Bundeskartellamt and ACCC, as well as recent significant mergers including Google/Fitbit, Facebook/Giphy, Illumina/Grail.

Review Foreign Direct Investment rules, including practical implications for notifications in global transactions as well as proposals for Regulation on Foreign Subsidies and distortion of internal market concerns. 

Join this practical panel session to review transatlantic and UK/EU cooperation, to consider what lessons can be learnt from recent cases on how regulators around the world approach mergers, and when to file/not to file in jurisdictions where you don’t have material issues.