Overview: CMA's Merger Remedies Review Call for Evidence
techUK provides an overview of the CMA's call for evidence document for the Merger Remedies Review
Introduction
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a Call for Evidence to assess the effectiveness of current merger remedies in protecting competition and delivering positive outcomes for consumers. The review seeks input from businesses, legal experts, and other stakeholders to refine its approach and ensure that merger remedies remain effective in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
The review is focused on whether existing remedies remain fit for purpose, how they interact with evolving market dynamics, and whether changes are needed to improve their effectiveness. It aims to enhance the clarity, predictability, and proportionality of CMA-imposed remedies.
Merger remedies are interventions imposed by the CMA to address competition concerns arising from mergers. These remedies fall into two broad categories:
Structural remedies – These typically involve divestitures, such as requiring a merging firm to sell a business unit or assets to restore or maintain competition.
Behavioural remedies – These involve ongoing obligations placed on the merging firms, such as licensing agreements, access provisions, or non-discrimination commitments, to mitigate anti-competitive effects.
The CMA’s review seeks to assess the effectiveness of these remedies in addressing competition concerns and whether adjustments are needed to improve outcomes.
Key Areas of Focus
The CMA has outlined several areas for examination in its review:
1. The CMA’s Approach to Remedies
The CMA aims to assess whether its approach to designing and implementing merger remedies remains appropriate. This includes:
Evaluating the effectiveness of different types of remedies in different market contexts.
Considering whether structural or behavioural remedies are more effective in addressing specific competition concerns.
Reviewing how the CMA assesses the risks associated with remedies and their long-term impact on competition.
2. Preserving the Benefits of Mergers While Protecting Competition
Mergers can lead to efficiencies and innovation that benefit consumers. The CMA is exploring how to ensure remedies allow firms to realise these benefits while safeguarding competition. Specific considerations include:
The types of cases in which the CMA can use remedies to ensure that potential pro-competitive efficiencies from mergers can be maximised and, in line with the Government’s strategic steer, how we can ensure we are discharging our functions in a way that supports growth and investment; and
Their approach to RCBs, so as to ensure that merger benefits can be preserved wherever possible.
3. Running An Efficient Process
The CMA is reviewing whether their engagement on remedies is currently working well and how the remedies processes can be further improved.
Specifically, they are considering:
Improvements to the Phase 1 remedies process to minimise the time and cost of a Phase 2 investigation;
How the new Phase 2 process and recent legislative changes can support well-reasoned, evidence-based remedies decisions at pace, and whether further refinements are needed as we gain practical experience;
How the CMA’s remedies process can align with the actions of competition authorities in other countries, in line with our 4Ps commitment to proportionality; and
Potential procedural improvements to the remedies implementation phase.
The Four 'P' Principles: Pace, Predictability, Proportionality, and Process
A key focus of the review is whether merger remedies align with the CMA’s guiding principles. It will be key to relate any responses to the consultations back to these four guiding principles:
Pace: Ensuring that remedies are implemented promptly and effectively.
Predictability: Providing businesses with greater certainty about how remedies are designed and enforced.
Proportionality: Ensuring remedies are tailored to address competition concerns without imposing unnecessary burdens.
Process: Streamlining the process for designing, negotiating, and implementing remedies to improve efficiency.
How to Respond to the Call for Evidence
The CMA invites stakeholders to provide input on the following key questions:
Are structural remedies generally more effective than behavioural remedies in addressing competition concerns?
How can merger remedies be designed to effectively address competition issues while allowing beneficial efficiencies?
What challenges do businesses face in implementing and complying with remedies?
How should the CMA adapt its approach to remedies to reflect changes in market dynamics and evolving competition concerns?
Stakeholders are encouraged to support their responses with empirical evidence, case studies, or practical experiences. Submissions can be made directly to the CMA within the consultation period which closes at 5pm on 12 May 2025.
techUK will continue to engage with members to formulate a coordinated response to this consultation. We encourage businesses to participate in this process to help develop a framework that supports competition while fostering innovation and growth.
If you would like to contribute to techUK's response, please get in contact with Samiah ([email protected]) and Oliver ([email protected]).
Oliver Alderson
Junior Policy Manager, techUK
Oliver Alderson
Junior Policy Manager, techUK
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
Samiah Anderson is the Head of Digital Regulation at techUK.
With over six years of Government Affairs expertise, Samiah has built a solid reputation as a tech policy specialist, engaging regularly with UK Government Ministers, senior civil servants and UK Parliamentarians.
Before joining techUK, Samiah led several public affairs functions for international tech firms and coalitions at Burson Global (formerly Hill & Knowlton), delivering CEO-level strategic counsel on political, legislative, and regulatory issues in the UK, EU, US, China, India, and Japan. She is adept at mobilising multinational companies and industry associations, focusing on cross-cutting digital regulatory issues such as competition, artificial intelligence, and more.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of London, where she founded the New School Economics Society, the Goldsmiths University chapter of Rethinking Economics.
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Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Antony is a member of the senior leadership team and has overall responsibility for techUK’s policy work. Prior to his appointment in July 2012 Antony was chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the UK’s independent advisory group on broadband policy. Antony was closely involved in the development of broadband policy development in the UK since the BSG was established in 2001 and authored several major reports to government. He also led the development of the UK’s world leading Open Internet Code of Practice that addresses the issue of net neutrality in the UK. Prior to setting up the BSG, Antony spent six years working in Brussels for the American Chamber of Commerce following and writing about telecoms issues and as a consultant working on EU social affairs and environmental issues. Antony is a graduate of Aberdeen University and KU Leuven and is also a Policy Fellow Alumni of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.
As Head of Public Affairs, Alice supports techUK’s strategic engagement with Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. She regularly works to engage with ministers, members of the UK’s parliaments and senior civil servants on techUK’s work advocating for the role of technology in the UK’s economy as well as wider society.
Alice joined techUK in 2022. She has experience working at both a political monitoring company, leading on the tech, media and telecoms portfolio there, and also as an account manager in a Westminster-based public affairs agency. She has a degree from the University of Sheffield in Politics and Philosophy.
Edward leads the Digital Economy programme at techUK, which includes our work on online safety, fraud, and regulation for growth initiatives.
He has prior experience working for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and has previously worked for a number of public affairs consultancies specialising in research and strategy, working with leading clients in the technology and financial services sectors.
Samiah Anderson is the Head of Digital Regulation at techUK.
With over six years of Government Affairs expertise, Samiah has built a solid reputation as a tech policy specialist, engaging regularly with UK Government Ministers, senior civil servants and UK Parliamentarians.
Before joining techUK, Samiah led several public affairs functions for international tech firms and coalitions at Burson Global (formerly Hill & Knowlton), delivering CEO-level strategic counsel on political, legislative, and regulatory issues in the UK, EU, US, China, India, and Japan. She is adept at mobilising multinational companies and industry associations, focusing on cross-cutting digital regulatory issues such as competition, artificial intelligence, and more.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of London, where she founded the New School Economics Society, the Goldsmiths University chapter of Rethinking Economics.
Audre joined techUK in July 2023 as a Policy Manager for Data. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor in the Civil Service, where she worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and at HM Treasury on designing COVID-19 support schemes and delivering the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Before that, Audre worked at a public relations consultancy, advising public and private sector clients on their communications, public relations, and government affairs strategy.
Prior to this, Audre completed an MSc in Public Policy at the Korea Development Institute and a Bachelor's in International Relations and History from SOAS, University of London. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, learning about new cultures through travel and food, and going on adventures.
Mia focuses on shaping a policy environment that fosters the expansion of the UK tech sector while maximising the transformative potential of technology across all industries.
Prior to joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) within the Policy Unit.
Mia holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Manchester and a BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team in February 2023.
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
Dani joined techUK in February 2025 as a Policy Manager in the Digital Regulation team.
Prior to this, Dani worked in political monitoring where she was a consultant for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. In this role, she developed a strong understanding of parliamentary procedure, closely following all of the major developments in the tech centre and working with several key stakeholders and regulators.
She has an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Bristol and an MPhil in Modern European History from the University of Cambridge.
Outside of tech, Dani has a strong interest in addiction policy, particularly towards drugs, having written her dissertation on the topic as well as several subsequent research projects. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and following all things motoring, whether that be F1, MotoGP or Formula E.
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the Local and General Election and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. As well as working for multiple charities on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from University of Nottingham.
