Enterprise Act 2002

European mergers U.K.

67 Intervention to protect legitimate interests U.K.

(1) Subsection (2) applies where—

(a) the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds for suspecting that it is or may be the case that—

(i) a relevant merger situation has been created or that arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation; and

(ii) a concentration with a Community dimension (within the meaning of the [F1 EC Merger Regulation]), or a part of such a concentration, has thereby arisen or will thereby arise;

(b) a reference F2 . . . is prevented from being made under [F3 section 22 or 33] in relation to the relevant merger situation concerned [F4 (whether or not there would otherwise have been a duty to make such a reference)] by virtue of [F5 EU] law or anything done under or in accordance with it; and

(c) the Secretary of State is considering whether to take appropriate measures to protect legitimate interests as permitted by article [F6 21(4) of the EC Merger Regulation].

(2) The Secretary of State may give a notice to the [F7 CMA] (in this section “a European intervention notice”) if he believes that it is or may be the case that one or more than one public interest consideration is relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation concerned.

(3) A European intervention notice shall state—

(a) the relevant merger situation concerned;

(b) the public interest consideration or considerations which are, or may be, relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation concerned; and

(c) where any public interest consideration concerned is not finalised, the proposed timetable for finalising it.

(4) Where the Secretary of State believes that it is or may be the case that two or more public interest considerations are relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation concerned, he may decide not to mention in the intervention notice such of those considerations as he considers appropriate.

(5) No more than one European intervention notice shall be given under subsection (2) in relation to the same relevant merger situation.

(6) Where the Secretary of State has given a European intervention notice mentioning a public interest consideration which, at that time, is not finalised, he shall, as soon as practicable, take such action as is within his power to ensure that it is finalised.

(7) For the purposes of deciding whether a relevant merger situation has been created or whether arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation, sections 23 [F8 to 30] (read together with section 34) shall apply for the purposes of this section as they do for the purposes of Chapter 1 but subject to subsection (8).

(8) In their application by virtue of subsection (7) sections 23 [F9 to 30] shall have effect as if—

(a) references in those sections to the decision-making authority were references to the Secretary of State;

(b) for paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 23(9) there were substituted “ , in relation to the giving of a European intervention notice, the time when the notice is given ”;

(c) the references to the [F7 CMA] in section 24(2)(a) and (b) included references to the Secretary of State;

(d) [F10 section 25] were omitted; and

(e) the references in sections 23 to 29 to the making of a reference or a reference were, so far as necessary, references to the giving of a European intervention notice or a European intervention notice.

(9) Section 42(3) shall, in its application to this section and section 68, have effect as if for the words “intervention notice” there were substituted “ European intervention notice ”.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 67(1)(a)(ii) substituted (1.5.2004) by The EC Merger Control (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1079), reg. 2, Sch. para. 2(20)(a)

F2 Words in s. 67(1)(b) repealed (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 406(7), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 16(a), Sch. 19(1) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18 and with Sch. 19 Note 1); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F3 Words in s. 67(1)(b) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 16(b) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F4 Words in s. 67(1)(b) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 16(c) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1(subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F5 Word in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 6 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F6 Words in s. 67(1)(c) substituted (1.5.2004) by The EC Merger Control (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1079), reg. 2, Sch. para. 2(20)(b)

F7 Word in s. 67(2)(8) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 110 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F8 Words in s. 67(7) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 15 para. 28(2); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(f) (with Sch.)

F9 Words in s. 67(8) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 15 para. 28(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(f) (with Sch.)

F10 Words in s. 67(8)(d) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 15 para. 28(4); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(f) (with Sch.)

68 Scheme for protecting legitimate interests U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the taking of action, where a European intervention notice has been given, to remedy, mitigate or prevent effects adverse to the public interest which have resulted from, or may be expected to result from, the creation of a European relevant merger situation.

(2) In subsection (1) “European relevant merger situation” means a relevant merger situation—

(a) which has been created or will be created if arrangements which are in progress or in contemplation are carried into effect;

(b) by virtue of which a concentration with a Community dimension (within the meaning of the [F11 EC Merger Regulation]), or a part of such a concentration, has arisen or will arise; and

(c) in relation to which a reference F12 . . . was prevented from being made under [F13 section 22 or 33 (whether or not there would otherwise have been a duty to make such a reference)] by virtue of [F5 EU] law or anything done under or in accordance with it.

(3) Provision made under subsection (1) shall include provision ensuring that considerations which are not public interest considerations mentioned in the European intervention notice concerned may not be taken into account in determining whether anything operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(4) Provision made under subsection (1) shall include provision—

(a) applying with modifications sections 23 [F14 to 30] for the purposes of deciding for the purposes of this section whether a relevant merger situation has been created or whether arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation;

(b) requiring the [F15 CMA] to make a report to the Secretary of State before a reference is made;

(c) enabling the Secretary of State to make a reference [F16 to the chair of the CMA for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013];

(d) requiring [F17 the CMA, acting through a group so constituted,] to investigate and report to the Secretary of State on such a reference;

(e) enabling the taking of interim and final enforcement action.

(5) An order under this section may include provision (including provision for the creation of offences and penalties, the payment of fees and the delegation of functions) corresponding to any provision made in, or in connection with, this Part in relation to intervention notices or special intervention notices and the cases to which they relate.

(6) In this section “European intervention notice” has the same meaning as in section 67.

Textual Amendments

F5 Word in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 6 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F11 Words in s. 68(2)(b) substituted (1.5.2004) by The EC Merger Control (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1079), reg. 2, Sch. para. 2(21)

F12 Words in s. 68(2)(c) repealed (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 406(7), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 17(a), Sch. 19(1) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18 and with Sch. 19 Note 1); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F13 Words in s. 68(2)(c) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 17(b) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F14 Words in s. 68(4)(a) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 15 para. 29; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(f) (with Sch.)

F15 Word in s. 68(4)(b) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 111(a) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F16 Words in s. 68(4)(c) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 111(b) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F17 Words in s. 68(4)(d) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 111(c) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)