Part 3Mergers
Chapter 2Public interest cases
Reports on references
53 Restrictions on action where public interest considerations not finalised
(1)
The F1CMA shall cancel a reference under section 45 if—
(a)
the intervention notice concerned mentions a public interest consideration which was not finalised on the giving of that notice or public interest considerations which, at that time, were not finalised;
(b)
no other public interest consideration is mentioned in the notice;
(c)
at least 24 weeks has elapsed since the giving of the notice; and
(d)
the public interest consideration mentioned in the notice has not been finalised within that period of 24 weeks or (as the case may be) none of the public interest considerations mentioned in the notice has been finalised within that period of 24 weeks.
(2)
Where a reference F2... under section 45 specifies a public interest consideration which has not been finalised before the making of the reference, the F3CMA shall not give its report to the Secretary of State under section 50 in relation to that reference unless—
(a)
the period of 24 weeks beginning with the giving of the intervention notice concerned has expired; F4or
(b)
the public interest consideration concerned has been finalised; F5or
(c)
F6the report must be given to the Secretary of State to ensure compliance with article 9(6) of the European Merger Regulations.
(3)
The F7CMA shall, in reporting on any of the questions mentioned in section 47(2)(b), (3), (5)(b), (6) and (7), disregard any public interest consideration which has not been finalised before the giving of the report.
(4)
The F7CMA shall, in reporting on any of the questions mentioned in section 47(2)(b), (3), (5)(b), (6) and (7), disregard any public interest consideration which was not finalised on the giving of the intervention notice concerned and has not been finalised within the period of 24 weeks beginning with the giving of the notice concerned.
(5)
Subsections (1) to (4) are without prejudice to the power of the F7CMA to carry out investigations in relation to any public interest consideration to which it might be able to have regard in its report.