White & Case's Global Antitrust Merger StatPak (WAMS) is a resource providing information on merger control filing activity by competition authorities around the world. The WAMS survey currently includes filing data from 84 of the most active merger control jurisdictions in the world.
White & Case Global Antitrust Merger StatPak (WAMS)
as of December 20, 2022
WAMS Takeaways at a Glance
H1 2022
- United States: In the United States, merger control filing activity in H1 2022 (January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022) has cooled off: U.S. HSR filings in H1 2022 are down 23 percent versus H1 2021.
- The U.S. FTC reported 210 U.S. HSR filings in June 2022, compared to 295 reported in June 2021. Total H1 2022 U.S. HSR filings are 1325 compared to 1724 in H1 2021, which remains the record year.
- However, U.S. HSR filings in H1 2022 are 47 percent above the 10-year historical average of 901.
- Europe: Merger filing activity in H1 2022 across Europe has fallen short of H1 2021 levels —showing a decline of 20 percent in five European jurisdictions compared to H1 2021.
- Merger notifications to the European Commission during H1 2022 are down roughly 9% compared to H1 2021. As of June 30, 2022, the European Commission has reviewed 190 transactions and cleared without commitments 169 transactions.
- Notifications in Germany are down roughly 8 percent versus H1 2021, from approximately 467 to 429.
- Compared to H1 2021, filings in Austria dropped by almost 50 percent, from 318 to only 171 in H1 2022.
- Brazil: Brazil filing activity in H1 2022 is up roughly 20 percent compared to H1 2021, and up roughly 52 percent as compared to the five-year historical average.
CY 2021
- Worldwide: In 2021, worldwide merger notifications across 49 jurisdictions reporting data show that notifications have increased 34% in 2021 as compared to the 2016-2020 average.
- United States: US merger filings hit a 20-year high in calendar year 2021. US merger filings were 96% higher in 2021 than in 2020, and 93% higher than 2019 levels.
- United Kingdom: Brexit has not led to a substantial increase in merger filings yet.
- Middle East and North Africa: As merger control regimes have matured, the region has seen a steady increase in merger control filings in the Middle East/North Africa region.
- Germany: Filings dropped less than anticipated following increases in its merger filing thresholds in 2021.
H1 2022 Merger Filing Data
US Merger Control Filings in H1 2022 Are 47% Above Historical 10-Year Average
European Union: H1 2022 Merger Filings Fall Short of H1 2021 Levels
Brazil: H1 2022 Merger Notifications Are Above Historical Five-Year Averages
Germany and Austria: New Thresholds Result in Lower Number of Filings than in Previous Years
Mid-Year 2022 Merger Filings Show Varied Impact of Economic Cool-Down
Global Filing Trends for 2021
Spotlight on the United States: Merger Control Filings Surged in 2021
Spotlight on the European Union: 2021 Was a Historic Year for European Commission Merger Filings
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