Competition Office to Assist in Merger Control - International Law Office

The Czech Office for Protection of Competition has decided to assist officially merging undertakings in their merger notification. The aim of the newly established process is to facilitate and accelerate merger control proceedings.

Upon request of the parties in question, the Office for Protection of Competition will cooperate with the merging undertakings regarding the contents of their merger control notification.

The request to initiate pre-notification proceedings must describe the transaction in question and the markets concerned, as well as any potential impact the merger may have on such markets according to the merging undertakings. In addition, in the course of the pre-notification proceedings, the merging undertakings may also ask the Office for Protection of Competition to relieve them of the obligation to provide certain documents or translations (ie, translations of annual reports).

The pre-notification process works on a purely voluntary basis and is not a condition precedent to granting a clearance. Similarly, it is not a guarantee of a positive clearance decision from the Office for Protection of Competition in subsequent merger control proceedings.

For further information on this topic please contact Lucie Bányaiová at Salans by telephone (+420 236 082 111) or by fax (+420 236 082 999) or by email (lbanyaiova@salans.com).