Merger Control – UOKiK (Office of Competition and Consumer Protection) has summed up 2018
Number of applications with matters relating to mergers and cases opened ex officio* | 251 (including one case opened ex officio) |
Number of completed cases | 245 |
Number of decisions issued on matters completed | 229 |
Number of decisions regarding the discontinuation of proceedings | 1 |
Number of decisions regarding the consent to merger | 228 |
Number of cases that went on to be conducted in 2019 | 57 |
Number of whistleblower reports to UOKiK in 2018 | 1562 |
Average duration of the proceedings concerning merger | 41 days |
Average duration of proceedings completed in the so-called phase 1 | 36 days |
Average duration of proceedings completed in the so-called phase 2 | 199 days |
* note: the data contained in the table above applies only to entrepreneurs merger in 2018.
Entrepreneurs merger – the number of UOKiK inspections has tripled!
The number of inspections carried out at entrepreneurs in connection with merger proceedings has increased threefold in the last two years. This information was shared by the President of UOKiK, Marek Niechciał himself, in an interview with the handloscihandlowe.pl website. The President of UOKiK attributes the increase in the number of merger proceedings to, among others, the appearance of a new institution, a whistleblower. According to UOKiK data, in 2018, the Office was informed as many as 1562 times (both by e-mail, post and telephone) about potential frauds or violations of the merger proceedings. And although the President points out that „there are only a few accurate reports, just as in other countries”, he also mentions that some of the inspections conducted by UOKiK in 2018 were carried out as a result of receiving information from whistleblowers. The President of UOKiK also pointed out that to make sure that the consumer interests are protected, the office enters companies that may expose citizens to financial losses quicker than other services.