UK merger-control caseload shrinks with shift away from global deals
By Jon Menon ( July 31, 2026, 08:56 GMT | Comment) -- Merger reviews started by the UK antitrust regulator have fallen by more than half in two years, January-to-June figures suggest, with the watchdog examining fewer large multinational transactions as part of its effort to avoid duplication with other jurisdictions and adapt to the UK government's economic growth imperatives. The Competition and Markets Authority started 10 phase I reviews in the first half of 2026, down from 15 in that period last year and 22 the year before.The number of merger reviews started by the UK antitrust regulator has dropped sharply over the past two years, with the watchdog examining significantly fewer big global deals, according to first-half comparisons....
Prepare for tomorrow’s regulatory change, today
MLex identifies risk to business wherever it emerges, with specialist reporters across the globe providing exclusive news and deep-dive analysis on the proposals, probes, enforcement actions and rulings that matter to your organization and clients, now and in the longer term.
Know what others in the room don’t, with features including:
- Daily newsletters for Antitrust, M&A, Trade, Data Privacy & Security, Technology, AI and more
- Custom alerts on specific filters including geographies, industries, topics and companies to suit your practice needs
- Predictive analysis from expert journalists across North America, the UK and Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific
- Curated case files bringing together news, analysis and source documents in a single timeline
Experience MLex today with a 14-day free trial.