Mergers Division

Mergers over a certain financial threshold, and media mergers, must be notified to the Competition Authority. The main role of the Mergers Division is to review, analyse and prepare reasoned determinations on notified mergers and acquisitions. This is a statutory function of the Competition Authority and must be carried out within a specified time period in each case.

Businesses use mergers to restructure in order to compete and prosper. However, some mergers can have a negative effect on consumers by, for example, leading to an increase in price or a reduction in output. That is, they substantially lessen competition and consumers (including businesses) suffer.

The Competition Authority has the power to:

Clear mergers;
Clear mergers with conditions; or
Block mergers where it finds that they will lead to a substantial lessening of competition.

The Mergers Division also investigates mergers below the notification thresholds, under sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act 2002.

Need more information?

For further information and guidance on the Irish merger regime, please click here.

The Competition Authority - www.tca.ie

Mergers Division