• About
  • Offices
  • Careers
  • News
  • Students
  • Alumni
  • Payments
  • EN | FR
Background Image
Bennett Jones Logo
  • People
  • Expertise
  • Knowledge
  • Search
  • FR Menu
  • Search Mobile
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
View all
Practices
Corporate Litigation Regulatory Tax View all
Industries
Energy Infrastructure Mining Private Equity & Investment Funds View all
Advisory
Crisis & Risk Management Public Policy
View Client Work
International Experience
Insights News Events Subscribe
Arbitration Angle Artificial Intelligence Insights Business Law Talks Podcast Class Actions: Looking Forward Class Action Quick Takes
Economic Outlook New Energy Economy Series Quarterly Fintech Insights Quarterly M&A Insights Sustainability & the CIO
People
Offices
About
Practices
Industries
Advisory Services
Client Work
Insights
News
Events
Careers
Law Students
Alumni
Payments
Search
Subscribe

Stay informed on the latest business and legal insights and events.

LinkedIn LinkedIn Twitter Twitter Vimeo Vimeo
 
Blog

New Canadian Competition Act and Investment Canada Act Merger Review Thresholds for 2020

April 03, 2020

Written By Adam Kalbfleisch and Kyle Donnelly

The Competition Bureau has announced that the 2020 size of transaction pre-merger notification threshold under the Competition Act will remain unchanged from the current threshold of $96 million set in 2019. Acquisitions may be subject to mandatory pre-notification where the aggregate value of the target firm's assets in Canada, or the gross revenues from sales in or from Canada generated from those assets, exceeds the size of transaction threshold. The size of parties threshold ($400 million), and shareholdings threshold in the case of share deals, must also be met for a mandatory notification to be required.

Similarly, Innovation, Science and Industry Canada (ISI) also recently increased various review thresholds for investments under the Investment Canada Act, effective February 15, 2020. The 2020 threshold for World Trade Organization (WTO) investors that are not state-owned enterprises (SOEs) increased to $1.075 billion for direct investments involving Canadian non-cultural businesses, based on the enterprise value of the Canadian business’ assets (up from $1.045 billion in 2019). Private sector investors from the United States, Australia, Chile, Colombia, the European Union, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam benefit from a higher "trade-agreement" investor threshold, which increased to $1.613 billion, based on the enterprise value of the Canadian business’ assets, up from $1.568 billion in 2019. The 2020 threshold for WTO investors that are SOEs increased to $428 million based on the book value of the Canadian business' assets, up from $416 million in 2019.

The thresholds for review for direct and indirect investments by non-WTO investors ($5 million and $50 million, respectively) and for direct and indirect investments in Canadian cultural businesses ($5 million and $50 million, respectively) remain the same.

Please note that this publication presents an overview of notable legal trends and related updates. It is intended for informational purposes and not as a replacement for detailed legal advice. If you need guidance tailored to your specific circumstances, please contact one of the authors to explore how we can help you navigate your legal needs.

For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Amrita Kochhar at kochhara@bennettjones.com.

Download PDF

Author

  • Adam  Kalbfleisch Adam Kalbfleisch, Partner

Related Links

  • Insights
  • Media
  • Subscribe

Recent Posts

Blog

Q&A on Cybersecurity and Family Enterprises: How to [...]

May 23, 2025
       

Blog

British Columbia Grapples With Evidentiary Issues [...]

May 22, 2025
       

Blog

Screening By the Authorizing Judge: Québec Court of [...]

May 22, 2025
       

Blog

Court of Appeal Cuts Off Speculative Product Liability Claims

May 22, 2025
       

Blog

The Ontario Court of Appeal Clarified When Class Actions [...]

May 22, 2025
       
Bennett Jones Centennial Footer
Bennett Jones Centennial Footer
About
  • Leadership
  • Diversity
  • Community
  • Innovation
  • Security
Offices
  • Calgary
  • Edmonton
  • Montréal
  • Ottawa
  • Toronto
  • Vancouver
  • New York
Connect
  • Insights
  • News
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Students
  • Alumni
Subscribe

Stay informed on the latest business and legal insights and events.

LinkedIn LinkedIn Twitter Twitter Vimeo Vimeo
© Bennett Jones LLP 2025. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
Logo Bennett Jones