Brussels plans to expand its powers over merger deals in order to stop “killer acquisitions” that pose risks to start-ups in Europe and beyond, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The European Commission, the EU’s top competition enforcer, has pledged to overhaul its rule book on mergers and acquisitions for the first time in decades, including by revising when and where it can intervene on deals.
The reforms under discussion would aim to significantly extend the commission’s jurisdiction to mergers involving companies that generate most of their revenue outside Europe, three people familiar with the plans told the Financial Times.