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Competitive Effects of Mergers

Competitive Effects of Mergers

Learn with our expert faculty

facultyMassimo Motta
PhD, Université Catholique de Louvain
ICREA-UPF and BSE; former Chief Competition Economist, European Commission
Director Instructor
facultyGiulio Federico
PhD, University of Oxford
Partner, Oxera
Instructor
facultyChiara Fumagalli
PhD, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Professor, Bocconi University
Instructor
facultyElena Zoido
PhD, Harvard University
Senior Vice President, Compass Lexecon
Instructor
facultyHans Zenger
PhD, University of Munich
Head of Unit at the Chief Economist Team of DG Competition (European Commission)
Instructor

INTENSIVE COURSE

Competitive Effects of Mergers

Applications will open soon!
  ONLINE FACE-TO-FACE
Regular Fee 2950 € 2950 €
Reduced Fee 1600 € 1600 €

10% early-bird discount applies to payments made on or before February 19, 2024 at 23:59 (CET)

See below for reduced fee eligibility

Apply to join this course

Early-bird payment deadline: February 19, 2024

  ONLINE FACE-TO-FACE
Regular Fee 2950 € 2950 €
Reduced Fee 1600 € 1600 €

10% early-bird discount applies to payments made on or before February 19, 2024 at 23:59 (CET)

See below for reduced fee eligibility

Apply to join this course

Last day to apply: March 19, 2024

  ONLINE FACE-TO-FACE
Regular Fee 2950 € 2950 €
Reduced Fee 1600 € 1600 €

10% early-bird discount applies to payments made on or before February 19, 2024 at 23:59 (CET)

See below for reduced fee eligibility

This edition is closed. Next edition TBA.

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Course overview

Over the last few years, the field of mergers and acquisitions has experienced significant academic developments, advances in merger control practices, and robust policy debates. This period has also witnessed a notable shift in enforcement priorities, with increased focus on understanding the impact of mergers on innovation, investment, and potential competitors. Effects on labor markets and non-horizontal mergers have emerged as fresh challenges in the landscape of merger enforcement, marking a dynamic and evolving landscape for professionals in this field.

In this intensive 4-day executive course, which you can attend either in person or online, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of recent economic theories and advanced practices in merger control. Topics include quantitative methods in competition assessment, case analysis, and discussions on hotly debated issues like changing standards and objectives in merger assessments. You will also interact with experienced lecturers from academia, the private sector, and regulatory agencies. Get ready for a professional, interactive, and enriching exploration of competition economics.

Acquire a thorough understanding of the most recent economic theories on the competitive effects of mergers, review actual cases and apply the concepts in practice

During this course, you will:

  • Explore Economic Theories: Delve into established and recent economic theories on mergers and their effects through a largely non-formal exposition also accessible to non-economists.
  • Get Acquainted with Economic Tools: Acquire the key tools for applying a sound economic approach to assess merger effects.
  • Decode Theories of Harm: Understand the primary theories of harm and learn how to identify the necessary evidence for their assessment.
  • Evaluate Efficiency Gains: Develop the skills to assess efficiency gains and their impact on mergers.
  • Craft Coherent Claims: Learn to construct economically coherent arguments for both anti-competitive claims and defenses.
  • Refine Critical Evaluation: Acquire the ability to critically evaluate economic analyses and submissions in the context of merger control.
  • Analyze Landmark Cases: Review and grasp the critical aspects of recent landmark merger cases.

Get acquainted with merger cases and recent policy developments with internationally renowned competition scholars and practitioners, in just 4 days

Schedule

Times listed are Central European Time (CET). Compare with your time zone on time.is

Instructors, topics, and schedule are subject to change.

Day 1

Time Session Professor
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-9:30 Introduction to Merger Control Massimo Motta
9:30-10:45 Unilateral effects, I Hans Zenger
Coffee break
11:15-13:00 Unilateral effects, II Hans Zenger
Lunch
14:00-15:45 Empirical effects in mergers, I Elena Zoido
Coffee Break
16:15-18:00 Empirical effects in mergers, II Elena Zoido
Social Dinner

Day 2

Time Session Professor
9:00-10:45 Effects on investment and innovation: principles and cases Giulio Federico
Coffee Break
11:15-13:00 Empirical effects in mergers, III Elena Zoido
Lunch
14:00-15:45 Unilateral effects, III: homogeneous goods and bidding markets Giulio Federico
Coffee Break
16:15-18:00 Acquisition of potential competitors: theory and cases Massimo Motta

Day 3

Time Session Professor
9:00-10:45 Dealing with efficiency gains Giulio Federico
Coffee Break
11:15-13:00 Non-horizontal mergers: principles Hans Zenger
Lunch
14:00-15:45 Non-horizontal mergers: cases Hans Zenger
Coffee Break
16:15-18:00 Coordinated effects: theory and cases Chiara Fumagalli

Day 4

Time Session Professor
9:00-10:45 Merger remedies: principles and cases Massimo Motta
Coffee Break
11:15-13:00 Effects on labor markets

Chiara Fumagalli
Lunch
14:00-15:45 US Guidelines and current policy issues

Hans Zenger

Giulio Federico

Massimo Motta

Testimonials

Gary Shiu, Principal Regulatory Affairs Manager, Office of the Communications Authority of Hong Kong

The course strikes an excellent balance between theory and practice. While rigorous, it never loses sight on the importance of applying the theoretical insights in real cases.  The choice of instructors is also first rate, as all of them are not only well published scholars but with extensive real world experience at the same time, holding senior positions in competition agencies or private economic consultant firms.

Aida Moreu, Clifford Chance LLP Madrid

I would highly recommend this course to antitrust lawyers. It definitely provides you with a better understanding of the economic rationale underpinning Competition law and in particular, merger control. I was pleasantly surprised by the course; it greatly exceeded expectations and gave me the chance to engage in detailed discussion with excellent teachers who were always available and keen to respond to any and all questions or doubts that I had.

Participant Profile

This course is specifically aimed at: 

  1. Academics and researchers in competition law and economics.
  2. Lawyers, economists and policymakers working on competition issues in:

    ● Competition authorities and regulatory agencies

    ● Law firms, courts, and tribunals

    ● Economic consultancy firms

    ● International organizations and other public institutions

    ● Corporations

  3. Managers and professionals involved in competition matters, eager to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions.

 

Fees

The fees for this course are listed below and all available discounts can be found here. 

For this course, the Reduced Fee also applies to participants in the public sector (e.g. agencies, tribunals, regulators, competition authorities, government institutions...)

* Reduced Fee applies for PhD or Master's students, Alumni of BSE Master's programs, and participants who are unemployed.

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