Part 3

Mergers
Chapter 5

Supplementary

Merger notices

Section 97: supplementary
98
1
A notice under section 97(2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (9) or (11) shall be given, before the end of the period for considering the merger notice, to the person who gave the merger notice.
2
A notice under section 97(5)—
a
shall also be given within 5 days of the end of the period within which the information is to be provided and which is stated in the notice under section 99(2); and
b
shall also inform the person who gave the merger notice of—
i
the OFT’s opinion as mentioned in section 97(5); and
ii
the OFT’s intention to extend the period for considering a merger notice.
3
In determining for the purposes of section 97(1), (2), (3), (4) or (8)(b) or subsection (2)(a) above any period which is expressed in the enactment concerned as a period of days or number of days no account shall be taken of—
a
Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday and Christmas Day; and
b
any day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales.
4
Any reference in this Part (apart from in section 97(1) and section 99(1)) to the period for considering a merger notice shall, if that period is extended by virtue of any one or more of subsections (2), (3), (4) (5), (7), (9) and (11) of section 97 in relation to a particular case, be construed in relation to that case as a reference to that period as so extended; but only one extension is possible under section 97(2), (3) or (4).
5
Where the period for considering a merger notice is extended or further extended by virtue of section 97, the period as extended or (as the case may be) further extended shall, subject to subsections (6) and (7), be calculated by taking the period being extended and adding to it the period of the extension (whether or not those periods overlap in time).
6
Subsection (7) applies where—
a
the period for considering a merger notice is further extended;
b
the further extension and at least one previous extension is made under one or more of subsections (5), (7), (9) and (11) of section 97; and
c
the same days or fractions of days are included in or comprise the further extension and are included in or comprise at least one such previous extension.
7
In calculating the period of the further extension, any days or fractions of days of the kind mentioned in subsection (6)(c) shall be disregarded.