Part 3U.K.Mergers

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. 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)

C2Pt. 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)

C3Pt. 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)

C10Pt. 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))

C11Pt. 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))

C12Pt. 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))

C13Pt. 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); and (23.8.2024) by S.I. 2024/840, regs. 1(1), 3-7; and (1.1.2025) by S.I. 2024/1234, regs. 1(1), 3-10 (with reg. 11))

Chapter 1U.K.Duty to make references

Duty to make references: anticipated mergersU.K.

33 Duty to make references in relation to anticipated mergersU.K.

(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). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17(3A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(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.

Textual Amendments

F5Words in s. 33(2)(a) omitted (1.4.2014) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 72(3)(b) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F6Words in s. 33(2)(b) omitted (1.4.2014) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 72(3)(c) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F9Words in s. 33(3)(a) repealed (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406(7), 411(2)(3), 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)