Rekabet Kurumu Market Definitions

English-language access to Turkish Competition Authority decisions — the world's highest-volume merger control regime

About Rekabet Kurumu

The Rekabet Kurumu (Turkish Competition Authority, TCA) is one of the world's most prolific merger control authorities by transaction volume, reviewing thousands of notifications annually. Turkey's mandatory notification regime — with thresholds significantly lower than the EU average — means that virtually all global cross-border transactions require Turkish approval, making TCA market definitions highly relevant for any international M&A practice. Decisions are published in Turkish, creating a significant language barrier. CuriAI provides English-language access to TCA market definition precedents.

Why TCA Market Definitions Matter

  • Turkey reviews more merger filings annually than most EU member states combined — low thresholds mean nearly every sizeable global deal requires TCA approval
  • TCA market definitions for Turkish domestic markets are not covered by EC or other European decisions, making them uniquely necessary for international filings
  • Turkish competition law has converged significantly with EU competition law, making TCA methodology directly comparable — but precedents are only accessible in Turkish without CuriAI

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rekabet Kurumu?

The Rekabet Kurumu (Turkish Competition Authority, TCA) is Turkey's independent competition authority, established in 1997 and headquartered in Ankara. It enforces Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition and reviews mergers and acquisitions exceeding Turkish turnover thresholds. The TCA is known internationally for its very high filing volume, a consequence of thresholds denominated in Turkish lira.

Why does Turkey have so many merger filings?

Turkey's merger control thresholds are denominated in Turkish lira and have not been consistently adjusted for inflation. The result is that virtually all substantial international transactions — even those with minimal Turkish nexus — technically meet the filing requirements, making Turkey one of the most frequently notified jurisdictions worldwide.

Are Rekabet Kurumu decisions published in English?

TCA merger decisions are published in Turkish only, with limited English-language summaries available for a small number of high-profile cases. CuriAI indexes the market definition content from TCA decisions and makes it accessible to English-speaking lawyers, significantly reducing the research burden for international M&A teams.

How does Turkish competition law relate to EU competition law?

Turkey's competition law framework (Law No. 4054) is closely modelled on EU competition law principles. The TCA applies market definition methodology aligned with the EC's SSNIP test approach and regularly references EC precedent. However, Turkish market definitions reflect the specific structure of the Turkish domestic economy and should be treated as distinct jurisdiction-specific authority.

Is Turkey part of the EU merger control system?

No. Turkey is not an EU member state and does not participate in the EU Merger Regulation one-stop-shop. Transactions meeting both EU and Turkish thresholds must be notified to both the European Commission and the TCA separately. Turkey's EU Customs Union relationship does not affect merger control jurisdiction.