• 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 Competition Act and Investment Canada Act Review Thresholds for 2019

February 04, 2019

Written By Adam Kalbfleisch, Kyle Donnelly and Alysha Pannu

On January 31, 2019, the Competition Bureau announced the 2019 size of transaction pre-merger notification threshold under the Competition Act would increase to $96 million (the 2018 threshold was $92 million). 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. The 2019 threshold came into effect February 2, 2019, following publication in the Canada Gazette Part 1.

Similarly, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) also recently increased various review thresholds for investments under the Investment Canada Act, effective January 1, 2019. The 2019 threshold for World Trade Organization (WTO) investors that are not state-owned enterprises increased to $1.045 billion for direct investments involving Canadian non-cultural businesses, based on the enterprise value of the Canadian business’ assets (up from $1 billion in 2018). Private sector investors from the United States, Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, the European Union, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Honduras and Korea benefit from a higher "trade-agreement" investor threshold, which increased to $1.568 billion, based on the enterprise value of the Canadian business’ assets, up from $1.5 billion in 2018. The 2019 threshold for WTO investors that are state-owned enterprises increased to $416 million based on the book value of the Canadian business' assets, up from $398 million in 2018.

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

BC Government Streamlines Renewable Energy Regulatory [...]

May 09, 2025
       

Blog

BBHIC 2025: Key Insights From Canada’s Leading Healthcare [...]

May 08, 2025
       

Blog

Upending the Ground Rules: Proposed Major Overhaul [...]

May 08, 2025
       

Blog

Government of Alberta Proposes Significant Changes [...]

May 06, 2025
       

Blog

What Does the SPAC IPO Rebound Mean for Cross-Border Deals?

May 05, 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