On 27 September 2013, the ACCC released its updated Informal Merger Review Process Guidelines. The guidelines were last subject to significant revision in 2006. Click here for more.
The release of the updated guidelines follows a consultation process which began in July. The updates reflect recent developments in the ACCC’s approach to merger reviews, as well as incorporating some additional changes aimed at improving efficiency and transparency.
The changes to the guidelines include:
- a pre-assessment process for dealing quickly with the large number of non-contentious mergers notified to the ACCC;
- more detailed processes by which merger parties are provided with feedback on issues and concerns raised by the market during a public merger review; and
- a clarified approach to releasing Public Competition Assessments, which are the published summaries of the ACCC’s reasons for its decisions in complex or contentious merger matters.
