China: Huya and Douyu Merger Ruling

On 10 July 2021, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has issued a ruling in its review of the proposed merger of the streaming companies Huya and Douyu, proposed by tech and entertainment conglomerate Tencent Holdings, prohibiting the merger from taking place. This was because the merger would lead to Tencent having the ability to restrict competition by achieving a dominant market position. The merger was therefore prohibited in accordance with Art. 28 of the Anti-Monopoly Law and Art. 35 of the Interim Provisions on Examination of Concentration of Undertakings.