UK merger control: CMA sets out its approach to assessing mergers in an increasingly dynamic and digital world

Given significant market changes since the original guidelines were published ten years ago and the wealth of CMA experience and advice subsequently accumulated, it is not surprising that the revised draft looks markedly different.

Most importantly, the CMA’s guidelines now set out its approach to mergers in digital markets. However, there are other notable updates and clarifications, reflecting the CMA’s current best practice, including a revised test for firms raising an exiting firm defence to their merger and its approach to ‘closeness of competition’.

This publication looks at the key new pointers.