The Dutch Competition Authority has refused to clear the contemplated merger of RAI and Jaarbeurs, thus making the first negative merger decision in its existence. In its competition analysis, the Authority emphasised the relationship between two relevant markets, in which RAI and Jaarbeurs have large market shares. RAI and Jaarbeurs proposed a number of mainly behavioural undertakings. However, the Authority insisted on structural undertakings from the parties and refused to allow the merger to proceed. The parties have several options for appeal.

Pepijn van Ginneken
Loeff Claeys Verbeke
Amsterdam