The Wall Street Journal

U.K. Competition Watchdog Targets Faster M&A Reviews

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told regulators to prioritize economic growth

The Competition and Markets Authority says it will speed up M&A reviews to help lift the British economy.
The Competition and Markets Authority says it will speed up M&A reviews to help lift the British economy. Photo: hollie adams/Reuters

The U.K.’s competition regulator plans to speed up its reviews of large deals in response to pressure to help boost the country’s economy.

“We know speed of decision making is vital to reduce uncertainty and costs for businesses,” Sarah Cardell, the Competition and Markets Authority’s chief executive, said in a blog post Thursday. She noted the vast majority of deals reviewed by the CMA end up getting cleared.

WSJ Logo