EC unconditionally clears F1 and MotoGP merger following Phase II review

Following a Phase II investigation, on 23 June 2025 the European Commission (EC) granted unconditional approval of the proposed acquisition by Liberty Media Corporation (LMC), owner of Formula One, of Dorna Sports, owner of MotoGP.

The EC had raised initial horizontal concerns about the Parties' combined position in the licensing of broadcasting rights of motorsports content, which led it to open an in-depth probe.  Following its Phase II investigation, the EC found that the Parties faced effective competition from a range of other sports (including non-motorsports) and concluded that the transaction would not give rise to anti-competitive effects. 

RBB advised LMC through this investigation. RBB’s team was led by Benoît DurandBenoît DurandPartner and Joan de Solà-MoralesJoan de Solà-MoralesPartner, supported by Alia SchweigerAlia SchweigerPrincipal, Lucy HoldenLucy HoldenAssociate Principal, Jimmy GårdebrinkJimmy GårdebrinkAssociate Principal, Paula MäkeläPaula MäkeläAssociate Principal, George SnaithGeorge SnaithSenior Associate, Alice Di MuzioAlice Di MuzioSenior Associate, Oula HeikkaOula HeikkaSenior Associate, Walter NúñezWalter NúñezSenior Associate, Jooseppi KalliokoskiJooseppi KalliokoskiSenior Associate, and Chiara Muzi.  RBB worked on this matter alongside Baker Botts LLP, legal advisors to LMC.