Steering compliance with existing regulation and comitology procedures
Advising and coaching throughout the policy-making and regulatory creation processes
Improving efficacy and cost-effectiveness of socio-political issue management
Merger approval, hostile takeovers & cartels
Although anti-trust rules are clearly prescribed by EU law, a straightforward European anti-trust case, acquisition or merger is a rare beast.
Merger approval
In many cases the formal merger approval process is subject to a range of pressures which have a significant bearing on the eventual decisions made. This is especially true in cases which contain an overtly political dimension, for example, a merger concerning a strategic sector or involving one or more high profile entities.
EPPA’s experienced, multi-disciplined competition team will give your case the best chance of success by running a water-tight operation. Understanding political sensitivities is the first step in allaying misplaced fears and ultimately attaining the green light for your merger. We intervene to allow your deal to be understood in its most appropriate context. Our competition service supports your merger team as they prepare for each of the deadlines throughout the merger approval process. EPPA leverages its proximity to national antitrust experts as well as to relevant EU decision-makers to allow for a consistent and compelling communication effort.
Hostile takeovers
EPPA has a particularly impressive record when it comes to defending hostile takeover attempts: we have a one hundred percent success rate. Our inherent understanding of the EU’s competition rules allayed with our receptiveness to political sensitivities has been of invaluable service to our clients in this area of EU competence.
Cartels
Action against cartels is a specific type of EU antitrust enforcement procedure. Exemptions to the normal competition rules are permitted in certain limited circumstances, such as the block exemptions given to certain industries or products. When defending a client, EPPA’s team will help to identify whether there are beneficial market effects of the cartel and how these effects should be communicated. Cartel cases are typically lengthy procedures involving Member State consultation committees. In helping to build your case, EPPA identifies the primary concerns of the various stakeholders in the procedure.