Pre-merger notification transaction size threshold increased to $77m

The Competition Bureau announced on February 7, 2012, that the pre-merger notification transaction size threshold will increase to $77 million, likely as of February 11, 2012. The party size threshold remains set at $400 million.

Generally speaking, parties to proposed mergers must notify the Bureau in advance of closing where:

1. The transaction relates to an operating business in Canada;
2. 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; and
3. The target firm has assets in Canada or revenues from sales in or from Canada of more than $77 million.