Ireland: Closed consultation on CCPC Updated Guidelines for Merger Analysis

On 29 October 2024, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) of Ireland closes a public consultation on the review of the CCPC’s 2014 Guidelines for Merger Analysis. The Guidelines outline the CCPC's framework and methodology for assessing mergers and detail the various areas the CCPC examines to determine if a merger could significantly reduce competition. The CCPC's review of the Guidelines aims at the publication of Updated Guidelines for Merger Analysis. The consultation seeks to gather insights on the proposed focus areas of the review, including substantial lessening of competition test, market definition, counterfactual analysis, and the assessment of competitive effects of a merger. CCPC aims to refine its approach to merger analysis across various dimensions, including horizontal unilateral effects, coordinated effects, and vertical mergers. CCPC seeks inputs from stakeholders on the scope, urgent areas requiring new guidance, and suggestions for incorporating recent developments in merger analysis into the revised guidelines.