The Ukrainian Parliament improves merger control regime

On January 26, 2016, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Protection of Economic Competition” Concerning the Increase of Efficiency of Control over Economic Concentrations” (the “Law”), which increases the financial thresholds and introduces a number of other long-awaited improvements to the merger control regime.

Increase of Merger Filing Thresholds

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the “AMC”) approval for concentration (merger clearance) is required if at least one of the two alternative tests is met:

Test 1: At least two parties are active in Ukraine

• combined worldwide turnover or value of assets of all parties exceeds EUR 30 million, and
• turnover or value of assets in Ukraine of each of at least two parties exceeds EUR 4 million.

Test 2: Target or founder has significant operations in Ukraine

• target in an acquisition, seller of assets or one of the joint venture founders have turnover or value of assets in Ukraine exceeding EUR 8 million, and
• turnover of at least one other party exceeds EUR 150 million worldwide.

All thresholds are calculated for the previous financial year on a group-wide basis, which means that the turnover and value of assets for all undertakings connected by a control relationship must be added together, including for the seller that controls the target. Contrary to some versions of the draft Law that were debated after the first reading in the Parliament, there is no specific exemption that would exclude the seller’s turnover or assets from the calculation, even if the seller ceases to control the target after the notified transaction is completed.

The new merger filing thresholds represent a significant improvement of the existing regime, which was heavily criticized for the lack of nexus: in most cases it was sufficient for one of the parties to have turnover or assets in Ukraine exceeding EUR 1 million in order to trigger the filing requirement. The market share test of 35% of the relevant market has also been abolished by the Law.

Expedited Review Procedure

The AMC will review a merger filing and grant the approval for concentration within 25 calendar days (reduced from the usual 45 days)in any of the following cases:

• only one party is active in Ukraine, or
• combined market share of the parties does not exceed 15% on an overlapping market or 20% on a vertically related market.

Procedure for Offering Remedies

If the AMC informs the parties about potential grounds for prohibition of concentration, these parties have 30 calendar days (extendable) to offer the AMC remedies that they are willing to undertake in order to eliminate the negative impact on competition.

Preliminary Consultations

Prior to submission of the filing, potential applicants may approach the AMC for consultations in order to clarify scope of information and documents to be submitted.

Information on Beneficial Owners

Failure to identify the ultimate beneficiary owners of the parties to the concentration will lead to the rejection of the filing by the AMC.

Filing Fees

Filing fee to be paid for the review of a merger filing application by the AMC has been increased by four times to UAH 20,400 (approximately EUR 750).

Effective date

Once the Law is signed by the President of Ukraine, it will come into force in two months following its publication, tentatively in April 2016.

For additional information please contact Vladimir Sayenko or Dmitry Taranyk.