We interrupt today’s regularly scheduled Monopoly Monday blog posting to bring you recent merger developments.

Last week, the Bundeskartellamt published its “Draft Guidance on Substantive Merger Control” for public consultation.  The guidance document is a substantial overhaul of the previous document which was published in 2000 under the title “Principles of Interpretation of Market Dominance”. The 2000 document will be replaced by the new text once it is finalized on the basis of the consultation. The Bundeskartellamt will publish the final version of its guidance document on its website in autumn after consultation and further review. Comments on the guidance document can be submitted until 21 September 2011.

Also last week, the Israel Antitrust Authority announced new guidance for merger remedies (in Hebrew). Similar merger remedy guides from seven jurisdictions were cited (see page 2).