Pre-Merger Notification Threshold Increased to $82 Million

The Competition Bureau announced on January 20, 2014, that the pre-merger notification size threshold will increase to $82 million, effective immediately following the publication of the Canada Gazette, which is anticipated to occur on January 25, 2014. The party size threshold remains set at $400 million.

Generally, the Bureau must be notified of a proposed merger before closing where:

1.The transaction relates to an operating business in Canada;

2.The target firm has assets in Canada or revenues from sales in or from Canada of more than $80 million; and

3.The parties collectively, including their affiliates, have assets in Canada of more than $400 million or revenues from sales in, from, or into Canada, of more than $400 million.