Mergers: An integral part of the competition landscape to be closely monitored

Almost all systems of competition law provide for control of mergers, to prevent companies from joining together to eliminate competition between them.

A merger could be a complete union of two or more companies, a more one-sided takeover or the transfer of parts of one firm to another.

Deciding whether a merger will harm competition can require sophisticated economic analysis of markets and the effects of the transaction.  Yet this sophisticated analysis must in most jurisdictions be carried out to strict deadlines so as to protect the procedural rights of all affected parties.

Why do competition authorities analyse mergers?

Most mergers are beneficial to competition, or at least do no harm to it, so competition authorities typically conduct a quick screening exercise to identify the exceptions.  In, mergers between competitors can result in very large costs to consumers and to the economy more generally, so it is essential that authorities have the power and skills to investigate effectively and to remedy any potential problems they find (including by blocking the merger).
 

Mergers between companies that do not directly compete (such as a ‘vertical’ merger between a supplier and its customer) rarely raise competition concerns; but when they do, they require very sophisticated economic analysis to assess whether the effects are anti-competitive or efficiency-enhancing.

‌Documents and links

• The Role of Efficiency Claims in Antitrust Proceedings, 2012 (pdf)

• Market Definition, 2012 (pdf)
  
  
• Impact Evaluation of Merger Decisions, 2011 (pdf)

• Economic Evidence in Merger Analysis, 2011 (pdf)

• Remedies in Merger Cases, 2011 (pdf)
  
  
• Cross-border Merger Control: Challenges for Developing and Emerging Economies, 2011 (pdf)

• The Failing Firm Defence, 2009 (pdf)

• Standard for Merger Review, 2009 (pdf)

• Vertical Mergers, 2007 (pdf)

• Dynamic Efficiencies in Merger Analysis, 2007 (pdf)

• 2005 OECD Council Recommendation on Merger Review

Debating merger control at the OECD

The OECD provides competition agencies with opportunities to debate the latest developments in merger control between themselves, as well as with international experts and the business community.  These debates cover the whole process from the initial notification of a merger, to assessment of the determination of remedies and finally ex post evaluation of the results.  The OECD has been closely involved in the development of common principles for the standard of review of mergers.  This extends to principles for co-operation between competition authorities when assessing international mergers, an area in which the OECD is currently focusing its efforts.

For further information on the OECD work related to mergers, please contact us at DAFCOMPContact@oecd.org.

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