Saudi Arabia: Implemented GAC amentment to merger thresholds

On 29 March 2023, the General Authority for Competition (GAC) announced amendments to the thresholds that require mergers to receive approval. Namely, the turnover threshold, requiring approval for transactions by parties with a combined worldwide annual turnover exceeding SAR 100 million, was raised to SAR 200 million, In 2019 the competition law imposed three mechanisms that trigger approval requirement: 1) "economic concentration," i.e. transactions resulting in a change of control over the target entity, 2) turnover thresholds, i.e. transactions by parties with a combined worldwide annual turnover exceeding SAR 100 million - now changed to SAR 200 million, and 3) a potential “effect in Saudi Arabia”, presumed by the GAC if parties have domestic sales, assets, or future business plans.