Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions are used by businesses to restructure in order to compete and prosper. However, some may reduce competition and harm consumers. To prevent this, we review certain mergers to safeguard against potential negative impacts.

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The JCRA operates a mandatory merger control regime for mergers that meet the relevant turnover threshold. These mergers must be approved by the JCRA before they are completed. The JCRA may also call in certain mergers below the threshold where they have a Jersey connection and may substantially lessen competition in Jersey.

The impact of mergers and acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions can deliver significant benefits for businesses, such as:

Introducing new management skills and investment
Achieving efficiencies through economies of scope and scale
Driving innovation, value for money, choice and quality for consumers

However, concerns may arise if a merger reduces competition in the market. Reduced competition may lead to:

Higher prices
Lower product or service quality
Less choice and innovation

These risks make it essential to assess mergers and acquisitions to understand their potential impact on market competitiveness.

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Jersey's merger control regime

Under the 2026 Merger Order, a merger requires JCRA approval where it falls within the legal definition of a merger, no exceptions apply' and:

• the combined Jersey turnover of the parties is £5 million or more; and
• at least two of the parties each have Jersey turnover of £2 million or more.

Where the parties to a merger meet the turnover threshold, the merger must be approved by the JCRA before it is completed.

The JCRA may require a merger below the turnover threshold to be submitted for approval. This is known as a ‘call-in’. The JCRA must decide within 30 working days, from the date it became aware of a completed or proposed merger, whether to call in a merger.

The 2026 Merger Order also excludes certain transactions from merger control, including some insolvency-related acquisitions, internal restructurings, financial holding company transactions, and transfers through inheritance or succession.

For more information, see A Quick Guide to Merger Control or, for more detailed information, see Guideline on Mergers and Acquisitions

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Engage early

If you are considering a merger, you are encouraged to contact us early at competition@jcra.je.

Pre-application discussions provide an opportunity for parties to engage with the JCRA before submitting a merger application. In our experience, this allows for a more efficient process.

In addition, or instead of pre-application discussions, you may also submit a merger briefing note to us. A briefing note is a short document that parties voluntarily submit to the JCRA to inform it of a merger. The note should generally be no longer than five pages and briefly explain the transaction, the parties, the relevant markets, the Jersey connection and why the merger is unlikely to raise competition concerns.

For an above threshold merger, parties may use a briefing note to engage early with the JCRA and initiate pre-application discussions. For a below threshold merger, parties may wish to obtain an early indication whether the merger is likely to be called in.

Briefing notes should be submitted to competition@jcra.je. The JCRA aims to review and provide an initial response to a briefing note within five working days.

There is no fee for submitting a briefing note or for pre-application discussions.

The merger review process

The key stages of the merger investigation (Phase 1) are:

Pre-application: engage with us early by submitting a briefing note or requesting a pre-application discussion. Early discussions can make the process smoother. Contact competition@jcra.je.
Draft submission: submit a Merger Application Form - effective 1 November 2026. We will review it to ensure it includes sufficient information for assessment.
Application: once the application form has been accepted as final and the application fee is paid, a notice will be published on our website. We aim to complete the merger review process within 25 days of notification which includes a 10-day public consultation.
Assessment: we assess whether the merger may lead to a substantial lessening of competition in a Jersey market.
Decision: if the merger will not substantially lessen competition, the JCRA will approve it, with or without conditions. If competition concerns are identified that cannot be resolved at the Phase 1 investigation, the JCRA will refer the merger to a second investigation (Phase 2).
Publication: the JCRA’s decision and reasoning will be published on its website.

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