The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has reported a successful start to its new merger control regime, which commenced on January 1, 2026. In the first three months, the ACCC received 50 merger notifications and 108 waiver applications, indicating a robust engagement from businesses.

During this period, the ACCC approved 39 notifications in phase 1, while two notifications were escalated to phase 2 for further assessment. The new regime mandates that businesses notify the ACCC of any proposed acquisition that meets specific thresholds set by the Minister, ensuring that no acquisition proceeds without ACCC approval.

The average approval time for phase 1 notifications was 18 business days, while waivers for simpler acquisitions were decided in an average of 11 business days. The ACCC granted 70 waivers, with six applications denied, requiring formal notifications for those acquisitions that did not qualify for waivers.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb expressed satisfaction with the early performance of the regime, noting that 91% of acquisitions were decided within the targeted 20 business days. The increased transparency of the process allows stakeholders to track acquisitions and understand the ACCC's reasoning behind decisions.

The ACCC is committed to maintaining efficiency and transparency as the new regime continues to develop, with ongoing reports on performance and trends expected.