On February 2, 2015, the Competition Bureau announced the 2015 size of transaction pre-merger notification threshold under the Competition Act would increase to $86 million; the 2014 threshold was $82 million. Acquisitions may be subject to mandatory pre-notification where the aggregate value of the target firm's assets in Canada, or the gross revenues from sales in or from Canada generated from those assets, exceeds the size of transaction threshold. The size of parties threshold ($400 million), and shareholdings threshold in the case of share deals, must also be met for a mandatory notification to be required.
Similarly, Industry Canada announced the expected 2015 threshold for review for World Trade Organization member investors under the Investment Canada Act. The 2015 threshold will be $369 million, up from $354 million in 2014. The threshold for review for non-WTO member countries remains at $5 million for direct investments and $50 million for indirect investments.
Please note that this publication presents an overview of notable legal trends and related updates. It is intended for informational purposes and not as a replacement for detailed legal advice. If you need guidance tailored to your specific circumstances, please contact one of the authors to explore how we can help you navigate your legal needs.
For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Amrita Kochhar at kochhara@bennettjones.com.
Bennett Jones