Mergers - Netherlands

Updated 07/2009

Legal requirements

Types of merger

Legal merger

This is when one legal person acquires another legal person.

Legal merger

Company merger

In this case, one of the merger partners takes over the assets and liabilities of the other partner.

Company merger

Share merger

Here, one of the merger partners acquires shares in the other partner.

Share merger

Buying an existing company, with an already established structure, can be a good way of expanding your business.

Takeovers — Netherlands

Administrative procedures

Notification

A proposed merger must be notified to the Dutch Competition Authority (NMa). This applies only to mergers creating large concentrations. The existence of any such concentration depends on the turnover of the participants and on their combined turnover after the merger.

Registration

Legal mergers must be listed in the trade register.

Trade register

Resources

You will find information about the Dutch market on the Hollandtrade.com website of the Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD). EVD is the Dutch government's international business and cooperation agency. It serves as a partner for businesses, knowledge centres, educational institutions and authorities inside and outside the Netherlands.

Hollandtrade

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), part of the Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD), assists and supports foreign businesses wishing to invest in the Netherlands.