On February 12, 2016, the recently constituted Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”), which was created under the Philippine Competition Act (Republic Act 10667 or the “PCA”), issued Memorandum Circular No. 16-001, Series of 2016 (the “Transitory Rules”), which provides for the transitory rules and guidelines relating to mergers and acquisitions that were, or are to be, executed or otherwise implemented after the effectivity of the PCA on August 8, 2015 but before the effectivity of its implementing rules and regulations (the “PCA IRR”). Given the special nature of transactions effected through the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Transitory Rules will not cover such transactions and will be covered by a separate issuance by the PCC.

Under the Transitory Rules:

(a) parties to merger or acquisition agreements wherein the value of the transaction exceeds One Billion Pesos (Php1,000,000,000.00) and which were executed or otherwise implemented after the effectivity of the PCA but before the effectivity of the Transitory Rules are exempt from the notification obligation under the PCA; and

(b) parties to a merger or acquisition agreement wherein the value of the transaction exceeds One Billion Pesos (Php1,000,000,000.00) and which are to be executed or otherwise implemented after the effectivity of the Transitory Rules but before the effectivity of the PCA IRR shall notify the PCC through a letter addressed to the PCC containing the information required under the Transitory Rules.

Mergers and acquisitions covered by the paragraphs above shall be deemed approved and the parties that notify the PCC in accordance with paragraph (b) may proceed to execute or implement their agreements. Such agreements shall benefit from Section 23 of the PCA and, therefore, may not be challenged under the PCA, except when the notification required under paragraph (b) above contains false material information.

Mergers or acquisitions wherein the value of the transaction exceeds One Billion Pesos (Php1,000,000,000.00) and are not notified to the PCC in accordance with the Transitory Rules will be subject to the provisions of Section 17 of the PCA. Under Section 17 of the PCA, an agreement consummated in violation of the notification requirement to notify the PCC shall be considered void and shall subject the parties to an administrative fine of one percent (1%) to five percent (5%) of the value of the transaction.

The Transitory Rules shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette and a newspaper of general circulation and will remain valid until superseded by the effectivity of the PCA IRR. The Transitory Rules were published on the Official Gazette and in a newspaper of general circulation on February 22, 2016 and shall take effect on March 8, 2016.

Download Client Alert on the Philippine Competition Commission Transitory Rules for Mergers and Acquisitions.

For more information, please contact your account partner or the authors of this Client Alert: Arlene M. Maneja, Franco Aristotle G. Larcina and Roshni V. Balani.