ACCC Merger Regime Changes 2026: Mandatory Notification Thresholds, Exemptions, and Bright Line Tests Explained
Changes were recently announced to Australia’s new ACCC mandatory notification regime, including introducing new notification thresholds, filing triggers, and exemptions. These changes were foreshadowed on 15 October 2025 when the Government announced its intention to make amendments to the merger regime, including refined notification thresholds, expanded exemptions for low-risk activities such as ordinary course land acquisitions, and other practical adjustments, before t
Australia's Upcoming ACCC Merger Regime: Preparing for Mandatory Notification from 1 January 2026
1 January 2026 marks the commencement of Australia's new mandatory and suspensory merger control regime. From 1 January 2026, acquisitions that meet the specified monetary thresholds must be notified to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) , with clearance required before completion. This introduces statutory review periods that will significantly extend timelines for many transactions. Transactions requiring rapid execution—such as opportunistic opportun
