Merger Control in Ireland: Q1-Q3 2017
1. Quicker No-Issue Phase 1 clearance determinations in 2017 (so far) compared to previous years – The average time to get a No-Issue Phase 1 clearance determination in 2017 so far is 22.9 working days (32.9 calendar days). This is 12.3% quicker than the average amount of working days it took in 2016 (26.06 working days and 37.5 calendar days), and 3.9% quicker than in 2015 (23.8 working days and 34.13 calendar days);
2. But slower Extended Phase 1 clearance determinations – The average time to get an Extended Phase 1 clearance determination so far in 2017 is 69 working days (100 calendar days). This is 3.8% slower than in 2016 (66.5 working days and 93.5 calendar days), and 6.7% slower than in 2015 (64.7 working days and 93.3 calendar days);
3. How many Extended Phase 1 Investigations have there been in the first 3 Quarters of 2017 (so far) and how does this stack up against previous years? – The number of Extended Phase 1 investigations so far in 2017 has already doubled the number of Extended Phase 1 investigations that were carried out in 2016. There have been 4 of these investigations so far in 2017, compared to only 2 in the entirety of 2016. There were, however, 5 Extended Phase 1 investigations in 2015 and, so, it remains to be seen if the CCPC will surpass this number in 2017;
4. How did the notification activity in the first 3 Quarters of 2017 stack up against previous years?
- Quarter 1 of 2017 – The number of mergers notified to the CCPC in Q1 of this year was largely in line with the previous 2 years. There were 15 notifications in Q1 of 2017 compared to 16 and 17 notifications in Q1 of 2016 and Q1 of 2015 respectively;
- Quarter 2 of 2017 – During Q2 of 2017, however, there was a dramatic increase in the number of merger notifications to the CCPC than in Q2 of previous years. There were 22 notifications in Q2 of 2017 compared to 18 notifications and 14 notifications in Q2 of 2016 and Q2 of 2015 respectively. That's a 22% increase in Q2 2017 compared to Q2 2016, and a 57% increase in Q2 2017 compared to Q2 2015;
- Quarter 3 of 2017 (so far) – Q3 of 2017 has also seen an increase compared to last year, with 16 notifications in Q3 of 2017 so far, compared to 14 notifications by the end of Q3 2016, and increase of 14%. However, this figure is down on 2015, which had seen 21 notifications by the end of Q3 for a 23.8% decrease between the two;
5. Media mergers – Media merger activity to-date in 2017 is slightly lagging behind previous years. There have only been 2 media merger notifications in so far 2017. In 2016 there were 4 media merger notifications in total, while in 2015 there were 6 media merger notifications in total.
Download our Merger Control in Ireland: Q1-Q3 2017 infographic which highlights key activity in Ireland.
For more information, contact a member of the EU, Competition & Procurement Group at A&L Goodbody.
Date Published: 18 September 2017