Rossel/IPM Group press merger 2026

The Belgian competition authority accepted and made binding the commitments given by Rossel to obtain a phase I clearance for its acquisition of the press activities of IPM Group. The commitments address the authority’s competition concerns in the markets for the supply of French-language daily newspapers and the purchase of journalistic services. Following the acquisition, Rossel will solely or jointly hold all French-language printed daily newspaper titles in Belgium.

Getty Images/Shutterstock merger 2026

Update: Getty Images abandoned its proposed acquisition of Shutterstock after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) required the divestiture of part of Shutterstock’s business as a condition for clearing the transaction under UK competition rules. In response, the CMA sought to rebut suggestions that its intervention was responsible for the transaction’s collapse, arguing that Getty Images’ decision was “ultimately a commercial choice”.

Orange Polska/APG/Nexera FTTH merger (pending case)

Polish telecoms operator Orange Polska and Dutch pension administrator APG notified to the European Commission their proposed acquisition of joint control over Nexera, a Polish wholesale-only fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) operator. After the transaction, the parties would contribute Nexera to their FTTH joint venture, Światłowód Inwestycje. The Commission’s phase I merger review decision is due by 7 August 2026.

Stakeholders highlight key challenges ahead in EU AI Act implementation

On the occasion of its 40th anniversary conference in Brussels on 23 June 2026, Cullen International hosted a panel discussion on the EU AI Act, addressing topics such as the role of standards and secondary legislation to help implement this regulation.

JD.com/Ceconomy foreign subsidies (pending case)

The European Commission launched an in-depth foreign subsidies investigation into the proposed acquisition of Germany-based consumer electronics retailer Ceconomy by China-based e-commerce group JD.com. The Commission has until 2 October 2026 to decide on the case.

Explainer: EU General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)

The GBER plays an important role in the EU state aid system by allowing member states to grant aid more swiftly, without prior notification to the Commission for approval, provided the measure meets specific conditions that limit distortions of competition. This report outlines the GBER’s provisions on broadband state aid and highlights proposed changes on which the Commission is consulting until 23 April 2026.