Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom and Ireland

Related legal acts

Key definition

Merger control definition

What does Merger control mean? Merger control is the review of mergers, acquisitions and certain joint ventures by competition authorities to prevent anti-competitive effects and to clear, condition or prohibit deals. In the UK, it is governed by the enterprise Act 2002 (as amended). The competition and markets authority (CMA) may review completed or anticipated deals where a 'relevant merger situation' arises: enterprises cease to be distinct and either the target’s UK turnover exceeds £70m or the parties meet/increase a 25% share of supply in the UK (or a substantial part). Notification is voluntary, but the CMA can call in transactions and impose...

Republic of Ireland Merger Control (2026): CCPC Call-in Powers, Thresholds, Media Mergers, Procedure, Remedies and Enforcement

Published by a LexisNexis Competition expert

Practice notes

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NOTE—to check if Notification thresholds within the Republic of Ireland and across the world are satisfied, see also: Where to Notify.

1. Have there been any recent developments regarding the Irish Merger control regime and are any updates/developments expected in the coming year? Are there any other ‘hot’ merger control issues in Ireland?

The Irish Competition (Amendment) Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) broadened the merger control remit of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). A key reform introduced a ‘call-in’ mechanism empowering the CCPC to demand notification of sub-threshold deals where the transaction could harm competition in markets for goods or services within the Republic of Ireland/the State. Although the CCPC has not yet, to date, exercised this tool, it has stepped up scrutiny of non-notifiable deals by sending formal requests for information (RFIs), with a view to the potential deployment and use of this new mechanism by the CCPC. In addition to the framework for both pre-completion voluntary and mandatory filings, the 2022 Act also allows parties to submit a voluntary notification after completion. Two such post-completion voluntary filings occurred in 2025, namely the purchase of McMullen Oils by Klass Energy and the acquisition by Barrett Steel of...

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Cormac Little

William Fry

Cormac is a Partner and head of William Fry's Competition & Regulation Department, specialising in EU and Irish competition, merger control and public procurement rules. He advises on the compatibility of business arrangements with EU and Irish competition laws and has represented clients in antitrust investigations by both the European Commission and the Irish Competition Authority and in proceedings before the European and Irish courts. Cormac has also secured regulatory approval from the Authority regarding many high-profile corporate transactions. He also advises both public bodies and disappointed bidders regarding challenges to contract decisions under public procurement rules. Cormac also has a broader regulatory focus. He advises clients on complying with anti-money laundering rules and on 'white-collar' crime issues. ...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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