Minority shareholdings are a common feature of corporate finance, institutional investment and strategic partnerships. While not inherently anti-competitive, competition concerns may arise where minority shareholdings connect competitors, potential competitors or firms operating in closely related markets. These concerns are particularly relevant when minority shareholdings provide access to competitively sensitive information, alter incentives to compete or enable influence over a firm's strategic decisions, thereby facilitating co-ordination.
In December 2026, the OECD will discuss the relationship between minority shareholdings and co-ordinated effects. The discussion will explore the mechanisms through which minority interests may affect competition, through the ability to form, sustain and monitor anticompetitive agreements, and punish deviations. It will also explore the evidence and market conditions relevant to enforcement, and the approaches taken by competition authorities to assess and address potential concerns under merger control and conduct rules.
This page contains all information and session materials.
