Part 3Mergers

Chapter 1Duty to make references

Duty to make references: anticipated mergers

33 Duty to make references in relation to anticipated mergers

(1)

F1The CMA shall, subject to subsections (2) and (3), make a reference to its chair for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 if the CMA believes that it is or may be the case that—

(a)

arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation; and

(b)

the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

F2(1A)

The CMA must make a reference to its chair for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 if the CMA has decided, under section 34ZF(3), to accept a fast-track reference request.

(2)

The F3CMA may decide not to make a reference under F4subsection (1) if it believes that—

(a)

the market concerned is not, or the markets concerned are not, of sufficient importance to justify the making of a reference F5...;

(b)

the arrangements concerned are not sufficiently far advanced, or are not sufficiently likely to proceed, to justify the making of a reference F6...; or

(c)

any relevant customer benefits in relation to the creation of the relevant merger situation concerned outweigh the substantial lessening of competition concerned and any adverse effects of the substantial lessening of competition concerned.

(3)

No reference shall be made under F7subsection (1) if—

F8(za)

the period within which the CMA is required by section 34ZA to decide whether the duty to make the reference applies has expired without such a decision having been made;

(a)

the making of the reference is prevented by section F9. . . 74(1) F10... or paragraph 4 of Schedule 7;

(b)

the F11CMA is considering whether to accept undertakings under section 73 instead of making such a reference;

(c)

the arrangements concerned are being, or have been, dealt with in connection with a reference made under section 22 F12...; F13or

(d)

a notice under section 42(2) is in force in relation to the matter or the matter to which such a notice relates has been finally determined under Chapter 2 otherwise than in circumstances in which a notice is then given to the F11CMA under section 56(1); F14or

F15(e)

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F16(f)

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F17(3A)

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(4)

A reference under this section shall, in particular, specify—

(a)

the enactment under which it is made; and

(b)

the date on which it is made.