There was a time not so long ago when very few countries in the world had merger control laws. In most jurisdictions, there was no need to notify a merger for prior approval before closing. How different the situation is today. It is estimated that upwards of 100 countries now have merger control laws, and in most of these countries, qualifying mergers, acquisitions and – in some cases – joint ventures must be notified and cleared by the local regulators before they can be implemented. Today, the need to obtain merger control approvals is often the number one factor delaying the closing of deals around the world.