The East African Community (EAC) Competition Authority has announced the commencement of receipt of notifications for mergers and acquisitions with cross-border effects within the bloc, effective November 1, 2025.
The move follows the provisions of the East African Community Competition Act, 2006, which empowers the Authority to receive merger notifications, review, approve, or remedy cross-border mergers that could have an anti-competitive effect in the region.
“The East African Community Competition Authority shall commence receiving Mergers and Acquisitions applications and notifications under the East African Competition Act, 2006 from 1st November, 2025,” the Authority said in a general notice.
ALSO READ: Tanzania’s Business Ban Could Hurt Regional Economy – Trade CS Warns
A cross-border merger or acquisition is notifiable to the Authority if the combined turnover or assets of the merging companies within the Community equals or exceeds USD 35 million, or if the entities involved have combined assets or turnover of at least USD 20 million, provided certain thresholds are met.
The prescribed notification fees, as approved by the EAC Council of Ministers, are as follows:
- Transactions valued between USD 35 million and USD 50 million will attract a notification fee of USD 45,000.
- Transactions valued between USD 50 million and USD 100 million will be charged USD 70,000.
- Transactions exceeding USD 100 million will require a fee of USD 100,000.
The Authority emphasized that all merger notifications must be filed in the prescribed form, accompanied by a copy of the agreement and relevant supporting documents.
“The Act empowers the East African Community Competition Authority to receive merger notifications, review, approve, or remedy cross-border mergers that have an anti-competitive effect in the Community,” the notice stated.
The EAC Competition Authority serves as the institution responsible for implementing and enforcing cross-border competition law across all partner states, which include Burundi, DRC, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
