1. Who is in charge of merger control in North Macedonia?
The authority in charge of merger control in North Macedonia is the Commission for Protection of Competition of the Republic of North Macedonia, seated in Skopje.
2. What are the merger filing thresholds in North Macedonia?
A merger filing obligation in North Macedonia is triggered if any one of the following alternative thresholds is met:
- The combined worldwide turnover of the parties exceeds EUR 10 million, and at least one party is registered in North Macedonia; or
- The combined turnover in North Macedonia of the parties exceeds EUR 2.5 million; or
- The market share of one party exceeds 40%; or the combined market share of the parties exceeds 60%.
3. Is merger filing in North Macedonia mandatory?
Yes. Where the merger filing thresholds are met, the transaction must not be implemented before clearance by the North Macedonian competition authority (standstill obligation).
4. Can the merger filing threshold be exceeded even if the target has no sales in North Macedonia?
Yes. A merger filing obligation may be triggered solely on the basis of the acquirer’s turnover in North Macedonia.
5. What are the merger notification deadlines in North Macedonia?
There is no statutory deadline for submitting a merger notification. However, the parties must refrain from implementing the transaction until clearance is granted.
6. What is the merger filing fee in North Macedonia?
Approximately EUR 600 in total.
7. Is there a short-form merger notification in North Macedonia?
No. The North Macedonian merger control regime provides for a single notification form, applicable to all transactions.
8. How long does a Phase I procedure last in North Macedonia?
The North Macedonian competition authority must issue its Phase I decision within 25 working days from receipt of a complete filing. Actual clearance timelines may vary in practice; for recent experience, please feel free to reach out to Dragan Gajin, Head of Competition at Doklestic Repic & Gajin.
9. How long does a Phase II procedure last in North Macedonia?
A Phase II investigation in North Macedonia must be completed within 90 working days from the date the in‑depth review is opened.
10. What are the sanctions for gun-jumping in North Macedonia?
For a gun‑jumping offence (breach of the standstill obligation), an undertaking may be fined up to 10% of its total annual turnover.
Need a quick filing check for North Macedonia?If you would like a quick initial assessment of whether your transaction may trigger a merger notification in North Macedonia, please contact Dragan Gajin, Head of Competition at Doklestic Repic & Gajin. |