EU reframes ‘investment’ concerns in updated M&A guidelines
By Lewis Crofts ( October 23, 2026, 07:56 GMT | Insight) -- Mergers that might weaken investment have seen the European Commission rework its approach, placing the concern within a broader assessment of head-to-head rivalry and spelling out the evidence that could support intervention — or assuage concerns. In updated guidelines, seen by MLex, the regulator has developed its theory that M&A can harm competition by weakening incentives to invest, but it has dialed it back from a stand-alone section.Mergers that might weaken investment have seen the European Commission rework its proposed scrutiny, placing the concern within a broader assessment of head-to-head rivalry between competitors and spelling out the evidence that could support intervention — or assuage concerns....
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