Mergers: when they will be investigated

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) may investigate a merger between your business and another to make sure it’s fair.

A merger usually only qualifies for a CMA investigation if either:

  • the business being taken over has a UK annual turnover of at least £70 million
  • the combined businesses have at least a 25% share of any reasonable market

Merging businesses includes acquisitions, take-overs and joint ventures.

Find out more about CMA’s merger assessment guidelines, and the prohibitions and remedies that can be applied.

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