Phase II Merger Control

Phase II is an integral part of the European Union (EU) merger control system, conducted by the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation (EUMR). This in-depth investigation is initiated when a proposed merger raises significant competition concerns that cannot be addressed during Phase I of the merger review. This two tier system, a relatively short preliminary review followed by a longer in depth review if the merger is seen as posing a risk to competition, is common to many competition regimes including China, and the USA. This chapter focuses on the EU regime.