Merger Notification Procedures
Outlining merger notification procedures, detailing submission requirements, assessment criteria, and compliance expectations to ensure transparency and adherence to competition laws in Singapore.
Last updated 4 May 2026
The merger notification process may comprise of two Phases depending on the competition issues related to the merger or anticipated merger:
Phase | How to submit | Key Documents Required | Estimated Time |
Phase 1 review | Online Form M1 submission page | 2) Third party contact details 3) Supporting documents A template waiver of confidentiality permitting CCS to exchange or discuss confidential information with other competition authorities for the purposes of reviewing the merger can be found here. * The detailed submissions template was last updated and took effect on 1 May 2026. The third party contact details template was last updated on 7 September 2023. | 30 working days upon receipt of complete online Form M1 submission (including detailed submissions, third party contact details and supporting documents). May be shortened to 25 working days for mergers that clearly do not raise any competition concerns. The Phase 1 review period (30 working days) may be extended by up to an additional 20 working days in limited circumstances where the merger situation requires more scrutiny. |
Phase 2 review | Please approach the case team responsible for your Phase 1 review for further details. | Form M2 and supporting documents * Form M2 was last updated on 3 January 2022 | 100 working days upon receipt of complete Form M2 and supporting documents |
Application to CCS
To apply to CCS for a decision of the merger or anticipated merger, you must fill out online Form M1 and submit it to CCS. The online Form M1 requires the following documents:
Detailed submissions
Third party contact details
Supporting documents including:
Application fee (see How much does it cost)
Copy of the notice given to any non-Applicant merger party, as required under regulation 5 of the Competition (Notification) Regulations 2007, submitted to CCS on the date of notification (where the written notice to all non-Applicant merger parties has already been given), or otherwise within 2 working days from the date of the notification
You may also submit Form M2 (together with Form M1) if you consider that the merger is likely to go into a Phase 2 review.
The format for the submission of online Form M1 and Form M2 documents is found at this link. While there is no requirement for original copies to be submitted during the application, CCS may request a hard copy of the original documents if required during Phase 1 or Phase 2.
In the course of assessing an application, CCS may request further information in addition to that provided in Form M1 or Form M2. Failure to furnish information sought by CCS may result in CCS exercising its discretion to not give a decision.
Phase 1 review
Once CCS receives a complete Form M1, it will conduct a preliminary assessment (Phase 1 review) which is expected to be completed within 30 working days. For merger situations that clearly do not raise any competition concerns, a streamlined assessment will be applied by CCS and completed within 25 working days. The merger will be cleared at Phase 1 if CCS is able to reach a favourable decision based on information collected during the Phase 1 review period. In limited circumstances where CCS requires more time to ascertain whether competition concerns arise, CCS may extend the review period by up to an additional 20 working days before deciding whether a Phase 2 review may be needed. We will inform you of our decision.
Phase 2 review
If CCS has reasonable suspicion that the merger will substantially lessen competition, you will be asked to submit Form M2 if you have not already done so, so that CCS can proceed to conduct a more detailed assessment (Phase 2 review). CCS will stipulate a deadline within which you are to submit Form M2. Merger parties who are unable to comply with the deadline should request for an extension as soon as possible. If Form M2 is not submitted within the deadline or extension, CCS may determine the application by not giving a decision.
Once CCS receives a complete Form M2, CCS aims to complete the Phase 2 Review within 100 working days.
Confidentiality claims
You will note that CCS obtains third party views about the merger or anticipated merger as part of CCS’s review in Phases 1 and 2. Therefore, you are required to clearly identify any information which you feel is confidential in square brackets within Form M1 and Form M2, and submit a separate annex identifying the confidential information and giving reasons why the information should be treated as confidential. CCS may seek further clarification of these reasons. You are not required to provide a non-confidential version of Form M1 and Form M2, unless CCS considers it necessary.