UK Government confirms reforms to competition and consumer laws

Our alert discusses the key amendments to the merger control, markets and competition rules (we will be publishing shortly a separate alert on the changes to the consumer rules). These include:

• significant amendments to the merger control jurisdictional thresholds, including a new threshold designed to enable the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review “killer acquisitions” more easily
• more flexible market inquiries, particularly in relation to the CMA’s ability to accept binding commitments and to review and amend existing remedies
• changes to facilitate stronger and faster enforcement against anti-competitive conduct, including greater evidence-gathering powers for the CMA
• tougher sanctions for non-compliance, eg for failing to comply with investigations and remedies.