C2C11C12C13C14C3C4C5C7C9C8C10C15Part 3Mergers

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2

Pt. 3 (ss. 22-130) modified (20.6.2003) by 1998 c. 41, Sch. 7 para. 20(3) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 185, 279, {Sch. 11 para. 11(2)-(4)(8)}; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 8)

C11

Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (29.12.2004) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56), Sch. 4ZA paras. 1, 2 (as inserted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 70(2), 279, Sch. 6); S.I. 2004/3233, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-5)

C12

Pt. 3 (ss. 22-130) applied (1.10.2005) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56), s. 17M(4) (as inserted by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 56, 105(3), Sch. 4 para. 2); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 2(h) (with Sch. para. 5)

C9

Pt. 3 excluded (28.6.2022) by 1992 c. 13, s. 56E(9B) (as inserted (E.W.) by Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 (c. 21), ss. 23(3)(f), 36(2))

C8

Pt. 3 excluded (28.6.2022) by 1992 c. 13, s. 56A(9B) (as inserted (E.W.) by Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 (c. 21), ss. 23(2)(f), 36(2))

C10

Pt. 3 modified (1.7.2022) by 2006 c. 41, s. 72A (as inserted by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), ss. 83(1), 186(6); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30))

C15

Pt. 3 modified (E.W.) (29.12.2004) by The Water Mergers (Modification of Enactments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3202), regs. 2-35 (as amended (1.4.2014) by S.I. 2014/549, art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 22 (with art. 3); (18.12.2015) by S.I. 2015/1936, regs. 1, 3-20; (6.12.2023) by S.I. 2023/1185, arts. 1(2), 9-27)

C5C7Chapter 1Duty to make references

Duty to make references: completed mergers

C630C5C7C1 Relevant customer benefits

1

For the purposes of this Part a benefit is a relevant customer benefit if—

a

it is a benefit to relevant customers in the form of—

i

lower prices, higher quality or greater choice of goods or services in any market in the United Kingdom (whether or not the market or markets in which the substantial lessening of competition concerned has, or may have, occurred or (as the case may be) may occur); or

ii

greater innovation in relation to such goods or services; and

b

the decision-making authority believes—

i

in the case of a reference or possible reference under section 22 or 45(2), as mentioned in subsection (2); and

ii

in the case of a reference or possible reference under section 33 or 45(4), as mentioned in subsection (3).

2

The belief, in the case of a reference or possible reference under section 22 or section 45(2), is that—

a

the benefit has accrued as a result of the creation of the relevant merger situation concerned or may be expected to accrue within a reasonable period as a result of the creation of that situation; and

b

the benefit was, or is, unlikely to accrue without the creation of that situation or a similar lessening of competition.

3

The belief, in the case of a reference or possible reference under section 33 or 45(4), is that—

a

the benefit may be expected to accrue within a reasonable period as a result of the creation of the relevant merger situation concerned; and

b

the benefit is unlikely to accrue without the creation of that situation or a similar lessening of competition.

4

In subsection (1) “relevant customers” means—

a

customers of any person carrying on an enterprise which, in the creation of the relevant merger situation concerned, has ceased to be, or (as the case may be) will cease to be, a distinct enterprise;

b

customers of such customers; and

c

any other customers in a chain of customers beginning with the customers mentioned in paragraph (a);

and in this subsection “customers” includes future customers.