The number of mergers notifications to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission increased by almost 10% last year, compared to the previous year.
All mergers and acquisitions that meet specific financial thresholds must be notified to the CCPC, which then assesses the transactions to determine whether or not they could result in the substantial lessening of competition in any market for goods or services in the State.
The consumer watchdog’s annual Mergers and Acquisitions Report for 2025 shows that it was notified of 90 mergers last year, up from 82 in 2024, and from 68 in 2023.
The CCPC said it issued 91 determinations, including 12 in relation to cases carried over from 2024.
It made 58 determinations, almost two thirds of the total, under the Simplified Merger Notification Procedure (SMNP).
The CCPC said those determinations were made within an average of 12.5 working days from notification of the merger, which is a reduction from the average of 13.3 days in 2024.
The commission said the average number of working days to reach a Phase 1 determination in non-extended cases was 17 days.
In 2025, the CCPC said it secured formal commitments from merging parties in five cases “to address competition concerns” arising from mergers in the telecommunications, fuel retail, hospitality, waste management, and wholesale grocery supply sectors.
The watchdog said the commitments are designed to ensure that the mergers “do not result in significantly reduced competition.”
“The commitments included divestments of assets and customer contracts, certain restrictions regarding future acquisitions, undertakings regarding the future management and operation of businesses, and safeguards to prevent anti-competitive information sharing,” it stated.
Eight media mergers were notified to the CCPC in 2025, compared to three in 2024. Six were cleared unconditionally, and two have been carried over in 2026.
Úna Butler, Member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, said its goal is to ensure that”competition is protected to the benefit of consumers and to that end, it was another busy year for merger review in Ireland.
She said the CCPC issued 91 determinations in 2025, which is a 34% increase in determinations annually since 2023.
“We also concluded five Phase 2 investigations this year, all of which required detailed economic analysis and extensive engagement with stakeholders,” she said.
“One key element of a merger review regime is the need to ensure efficiency,” Ms Butler said.
“In 2025 the CCPC established a standalone Mergers Division, ensuring senior resourcing and a sharper focus on merger review. The creation of this new division will support the delivery of a sustainable and effective merger review regime into the future,” she added.
She said the CCPC hopes to see the financial thresholds for mandatory notification of mergers, which were last updated in 2019, increased so that it can “focus resources on transactions which are more likely to raise competition issues.”
“In light of considerations such as inflation during the intervening time period, the introduction of new merger call-in powers and the Government’s commitment to reduce regulatory burden on businesses, the CCPC feels now is the time to reconsider the merger thresholds,” she added.