Enterprise Act 2002

33 Duty to make references in relation to anticipated mergers U.K.

(1) [F1 The 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 [F3 CMA] may decide not to make a reference under [F4 subsection (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 [F7 subsection (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 [F11 CMA] 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 ...; [F13 or]

(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 [F11 CMA] under section 56(1); [F14 or]

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

F1 Words in s. 33(1) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 72(2) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F2 S. 33(1A) inserted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 5 para. 3(2); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(11) (with Sch. paras. 5(2), 20)

F3 Word in s. 33(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 72(3)(a) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F4 Words in s. 33(2) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 5 para. 3(3); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(11) (with Sch. paras. 5(2), 20)

F5 Words 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.)

F6 Words 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.)

F7 Words in s. 33(3) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 5 para. 3(4); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(11) (with Sch. paras. 5(2), 20)

F8 S. 33(3)(za) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(a); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F9 Words 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)

F10 Words in s. 33(3)(a) omitted (1.4.2014) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 8 para. 3(b); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F11 Word in s. 33(3)(3A) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 72(4) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F12 Words in s. 33(3)(c) omitted (24.7.2024) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(3), Sch. 6 para. 3

F13 Word in s. 33(3)(c) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 36(2)(a) (with Sch. 4 para. 28) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 1(1), 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Word in s. 33(3) ceased to have effect (1.5.2004) by virtue of The EC Merger Control (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1079), reg. 2, Sch. para. 2(6)(a)

F15 S. 33(3)(e) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 36(2)(b) (with Sch. 4 para. 28) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 1(1), 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 S. 33(3)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 36(2)(b) (with Sch. 4 para. 28) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 1(1), 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F17 S. 33(3A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), regs. 1(1), 36(3) (with Sch. 4 para. 28) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1343, regs. 1(1), 35-59); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 3 modified (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 4 para. 56; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(c) (with Sch.)

C2 Pt. 3 modified (31.12.2020) by The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/93), reg. 1(1), Sch. 4 paras. 28-33; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)