Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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...

UK merger control 2025: DMCCA thresholds, CMA four Ps and Mergers Charter, SMS reporting, jurisdictional tests, voluntary filing/Initial Enforcement Orders (IEOs), remedies review, and public interest/national security

Published by a LexisNexis Competition expert

Practice notes

An interview with Peter Harper, partner, and Annabel Borg, legal director at international law firm Eversheds Sutherland, exploring key questions on Merger control in the UK. NOTE–to check whether UK and worldwide filing thresholds are triggered, consult Where to Notify...

1. Have there been any recent changes to the regime and are further updates anticipated over the next year? Are there other ‘hot’ merger control topics in the UK?

Revised thresholds

From 1 January 2025, the thresholds shifted following commencement of the competition provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA). The DMCCA delivered three principal amendments to the UK merger control thresholds:

raised the target turnover test from £70 million to £100 million (the public interest intervention bar for media mergers remains £70 million);
brought in a fresh threshold for certain vertical and conglomerate deals, notably so‑called ‘killer acquisitions’, enabling the CMA to examine mergers where:
- one party holds a share of supply of 33% or above in the UK and has UK turnover over £350 million; and
- the other party is either a UK entity, or conducts activities in the UK...

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Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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