| Enterprise Act 2002 | ||
| 2002 Chapter 40 - continued | ||
| PART 3, MERGERS - continued | ||
| back to previous text | ||
![]() | ||
| CHAPTER 4 | ||
| ENFORCEMENT | ||
Powers exercisable before references under section 22 or 33 | ||
| 71 | Initial undertakings: completed mergers | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies where the OFT is considering whether to make a reference under section 22. | ||
| (2) The OFT may, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action, accept from such of the parties concerned as it considers appropriate undertakings to take such action as it considers appropriate. | ||
| (3) No undertaking shall be accepted under subsection (2) unless the OFT has reasonable grounds for suspecting that it is or may be the case that a relevant merger situation has been created. | ||
| (4) An undertaking under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) An undertaking which- | ||
| ||
| ||
| shall cease to be in force if an order under section 72 or 81 comes into force in relation to that reference or an order under paragraph 2 of that Schedule comes into force in relation to the matter. | ||
| (6) An undertaking under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force and if it has not been adopted under section 80 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 7, cease to be in force- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (7) The OFT shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section. | ||
| (8) In this section and section 72 "pre-emptive action" means action which might prejudice the reference concerned or impede the taking of any action under this Part which may be justified by the Commission's decisions on the reference. | ||
| 72 | Initial enforcement orders: completed mergers | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies where the OFT is considering whether to make a reference under section 22. | ||
| (2) The OFT may by order, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) No order shall be made under subsection (2) unless the OFT has reasonable grounds for suspecting that it is or may be the case that- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (4) An order under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) An order which- | ||
| ||
| ||
| shall cease to be in force if an undertaking under section 71 or 80 comes into force in relation to that reference or an undertaking under paragraph 1 of that Schedule comes into force in relation to the matter. | ||
| (6) An order under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force and if it is not adopted under section 81 or paragraph 2 of Schedule 7, cease to be in force- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (7) The OFT shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or revoking an order under this section. | ||
| 73 | Undertakings in lieu of references under section 22 or 33 | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies if the OFT considers that it is under a duty to make a reference under section 22 or 33 (disregarding the operation of section 22(3)(b) or (as the case may be) 33(3)(b) but taking account of the power of the OFT under section 22(2) or (as the case may be) 33(2) to decide not to make such a reference). | ||
| (2) The OFT may, instead of making such a reference and for the purpose of remedying, mitigating or preventing the substantial lessening of competition concerned or any adverse effect which has or may have resulted from it or may be expected to result from it, accept from such of the parties concerned as it considers appropriate undertakings to take such action as it considers appropriate. | ||
| (3) In proceeding under subsection (2), the OFT shall, in particular, have regard to the need to achieve as comprehensive a solution as is reasonable and practicable to the substantial lessening of competition and any adverse effects resulting from it. | ||
| (4) In proceeding under subsection (2), the OFT may, in particular, have regard to the effect of any action on any relevant customer benefits in relation to the creation of the relevant merger situation concerned. | ||
| (5) An undertaking under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) An undertaking under this section which is in force in relation to a relevant merger situation shall cease to be in force if an order comes into force under section 75 or 76 in relation to that undertaking. | ||
| (7) The OFT shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section. | ||
| 74 | Effect of undertakings under section 73 | |
| (1) The relevant authority shall not make a reference under section 22, 33 or 45 in relation to the creation of a relevant merger situation if- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the making of a reference if material facts about relevant arrangements or transactions, or relevant proposed arrangements or transactions, were not notified (whether in writing or otherwise) to the OFT or made public before any undertaking concerned was accepted. | ||
| (3) For the purposes of subsection (2) arrangements or transactions, or proposed arrangements or transactions, are relevant if they are the ones in consequence of which the enterprises concerned ceased or may have ceased, or may cease, to be distinct enterprises. | ||
| (4) In subsection (2) "made public" means so publicised as to be generally known or readily ascertainable. | ||
| (5) In this section "relevant authority" means- | ||
| ||
| ||
| 75 | Order-making power where undertakings under section 73 not fulfilled etc. | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies where the OFT considers that- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) The OFT may, for any of the purposes mentioned in section 73(2), make an order under this section. | ||
| (3) Subsections (3) and (4) of section 73 shall apply for the purposes of subsection (2) above as they apply for the purposes of subsection (2) of that section. | ||
| (4) An order under this section may contain- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) An order under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) The OFT shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or revoking an order under this section. | ||
| 76 | Supplementary interim order-making power | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies where- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) The OFT or (as the case may be) the Commission may, for the purpose of preventing any action which might prejudice the making of that order, make an order under this section. | ||
| (3) No order shall be made under subsection (2) unless the OFT or (as the case may be) the Commission has reasonable grounds for suspecting that it is or may be the case that action which might prejudice the making of the order under section 75 or (as the case may be) 83 is in progress or in contemplation. | ||
| (4) An order under subsection (2) may- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) An order under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) An order under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force, cease to be in force on- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (7) The OFT or (as the case may be) the Commission shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or revoking an order under this section. | ||
Interim restrictions and powers | ||
| 77 | Restrictions on certain dealings: completed mergers | |
| (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) No relevant person shall, without the consent of the Commission- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) No relevant person shall, without the consent of the Commission, assist in any of the activities mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (2). | ||
| (4) The prohibitions in subsections (2) and (3) do not apply in relation to anything which the person concerned is required to do by virtue of any enactment. | ||
| (5) The consent of the Commission under subsection (2) or (3)- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) shall not apply if the Commission considers that publication is not necessary for the purpose mentioned in that paragraph. | ||
| (7) Subsections (2) and (3) shall apply to a person's conduct outside the United Kingdom if (and only if) he is- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (8) In this section "relevant person" means- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| 78 | Restrictions on certain share dealings: anticipated mergers | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies where- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) No relevant person shall, without the consent of the Commission, directly or indirectly acquire during the relevant period an interest in shares in a company if any enterprise to which the reference relates is carried on by or under the control of that company. | ||
| (3) The consent of the Commission under subsection (2)- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (4) Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) shall not apply if the Commission considers that publication is not necessary for the purpose mentioned in that paragraph. | ||
| (5) Subsection (2) shall apply to a person's conduct outside the United Kingdom if (and only if) he is- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) In this section and section 79- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| 79 | Sections 77 and 78: further interpretation provisions | |
| (1) For the purposes of this Part a reference under section 22 or 33 is finally determined if- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) For the purposes of this Part the time when a reference under section 22 or 33 is finally determined is- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) For the purposes of section 78 and subject to subsection (4) below, the circumstances in which a person acquires an interest in shares include those where- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (4) The circumstances in which a person acquires an interest in shares for the purposes of section 78 do not include those where he acquires an interest in pursuance of an obligation assumed before the publication by the OFT of the reference concerned. | ||
| (5) The circumstances in which a person acquires a right mentioned in subsection (3)- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) References to rights and obligations in subsections (3) to (5) include conditional rights and conditional obligations. | ||
| (7) References in sections 77 and 78 to a person carrying on or having control of any enterprise includes a group of persons carrying on or having control of an enterprise and any member of such a group. | ||
| (8) Sections 26(2) to (4) and 127(1), (2) and (4) to (6) shall apply for the purposes of sections 77 and 78 to determine whether any person or group of persons has control of any enterprise and whether persons are associated as they apply for the purposes of section 26 to determine whether enterprises are brought under common control. | ||
| (9) Sections 736 and 736A of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) shall apply for the purposes of sections 77 and 78 to determine whether a company is a subsidiary of an individual or of a group of persons as they apply to determine whether it is a subsidiary of a company; and references to a subsidiary in subsections (8) and (9) of section 736A as so applied shall be construed accordingly. | ||
| 80 | Interim undertakings | |
| (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where a reference under section 22 or 33 has been made but is not finally determined. | ||
| (2) The Commission may, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action, accept from such of the parties concerned as it considers appropriate undertakings to take such action as it considers appropriate. | ||
| (3) The Commission may, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action, adopt an undertaking accepted by the OFT under section 71 if the undertaking is still in force when the Commission adopts it. | ||
| (4) An undertaking adopted under subsection (3)- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) Any other undertaking under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) References in this Part to undertakings under this section shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include references to undertakings adopted under this section; and references to the acceptance or giving of undertakings under this section shall be construed accordingly. | ||
| (7) An undertaking which is in force under this section in relation to a reference under section 22 or 33 shall cease to be in force if an order under section 81 comes into force in relation to that reference. | ||
| (8) An undertaking under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force, cease to be in force when the reference under section 22 or 33 is finally determined. | ||
| (9) The Commission shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section. | ||
| (10) In this section and section 81 "pre-emptive action" means action which might prejudice the reference concerned or impede the taking of any action under this Part which may be justified by the Commission's decisions on the reference. | ||
| 81 | Interim orders | |
| (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where a reference has been made under section 22 or 33 but is not finally determined. | ||
| (2) The Commission may by order, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) The Commission may, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action, adopt an order made by the OFT under section 72 if the order is still in force when the Commission adopts it. | ||
| (4) An order adopted under subsection (3)- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) Any other order under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) References in this Part to orders under this section shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include references to orders adopted under this section; and references to the making of orders under this section shall be construed accordingly. | ||
| (7) An order which is in force under this section in relation to a reference under section 22 or 33 shall cease to be in force if an undertaking under section 80 comes into force in relation to that reference. | ||
| (8) An order under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force, cease to be in force when the reference under section 22 or 33 is finally determined. | ||
| (9) The Commission shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or revoking an order under this section. | ||
Final powers | ||
| 82 | Final undertakings | |
| (1) The Commission may, in accordance with section 41, accept, from such persons as it considers appropriate, undertakings to take action specified or described in the undertakings. | ||
| (2) An undertaking under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) An undertaking which is in force under this section in relation to a reference under section 22 or 33 shall cease to be in force if an order under section 76(1)(b) or 83 comes into force in relation to the subject-matter of the undertaking. | ||
| (4) No undertaking shall be accepted under this section in relation to a reference under section 22 or 33 if an order has been made under- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) The Commission shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section. | ||
| 83 | Order-making power where final undertakings not fulfilled | |
| (1) Subsection (2) applies where the Commission considers that- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) The Commission may, for any of the purposes mentioned in section 41(2), make an order under this section. | ||
| (3) Subsections (3) to (5) of section 41 shall apply for the purposes of subsection (2) above as they apply for the purposes of subsection (2) of that section. | ||
| (4) An order under this section may contain- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) An order under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (6) No order shall be varied or revoked under this section unless the OFT advises that such a variation or revocation is appropriate by reason of a change of circumstances. | ||
| 84 | Final orders | |
| (1) The Commission may, in accordance with section 41, make an order under this section. | ||
| (2) An order under this section may contain- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) An order under this section- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (4) No order shall be varied or revoked under this section unless the OFT advises that such a variation or revocation is appropriate by reason of a change of circumstances. | ||
| (5) No order shall be made under this section in relation to a reference under section 22 or 33 if an undertaking has been accepted under section 82 in relation to that reference. | ||
Public interest and special public interest cases | ||
| 85 | Enforcement regime for public interest and special public interest cases | |
| (1) Schedule 7 (which provides for the enforcement regime in public interest and special public interest cases) shall have effect. | ||
| (2) The OFT may advise the Secretary of State in relation to the taking by him of enforcement action under Schedule 7. | ||
Undertakings and orders: general provisions | ||
| 86 | Enforcement orders: general provisions | |
| (1) An enforcement order may extend to a person's conduct outside the United Kingdom if (and only if) he is- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) Nothing in an enforcement order shall have effect so as to- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) An enforcement order may prohibit the performance of an agreement already in existence when the order is made. | ||
| (4) Schedule 8 (which provides for the contents of certain enforcement orders) shall have effect. | ||
| (5) Part 1 of Schedule 9 (which enables certain enforcement orders to modify licence conditions etc. in regulated markets) shall have effect. | ||
| (6) In this Part "enforcement order" means an order made under section 72, 75, 76, 81, 83 or 84 or under paragraph 2, 5, 6, 10 or 11 of Schedule 7. | ||
| 87 | Delegated power of directions | |
| (1) An enforcement order may authorise the person making the order to give directions falling within subsection (2) to- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) Directions fall within this subsection if they are directions- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) An enforcement order may authorise the person making the order to vary or revoke any directions so given. | ||
| (4) The court may by order require any person who has failed to comply with directions given by virtue of this section to comply with them, or otherwise remedy his failure, within such time as may be specified in the order. | ||
| (5) Where the directions related to anything done in the management or administration of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate, the court may by order require the body of persons concerned or any officer of it to comply with the directions, or otherwise remedy the failure to comply with them, within such time as may be specified in the order. | ||
| (6) An order under subsection (4) or (5) shall be made on the application of the person authorised by virtue of this section to give the directions concerned. | ||
| (7) An order under subsection (4) or (5) may provide for all the costs or expenses of, or incidental to, the application for the order to be met by any person in default or by any officers of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate who are responsible for its default. | ||
| (8) In this section "the court" means- | ||
| ||
| ||
| 88 | Contents of certain enforcement orders | |
| (1) This section applies in relation to any order under section 75, 83 or 84 or under paragraph 5, 10 or 11 of Schedule 7. | ||
| (2) The order or any explanatory material accompanying the order shall state- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| 89 | Subject-matter of undertakings | |
| (1) The provision which may be contained in an enforcement undertaking is not limited to the provision which is permitted by Schedule 8. | ||
| (2) In this Part "enforcement undertaking" means an undertaking under section 71, 73, 80 or 82 or under paragraph 1, 3 or 9 of Schedule 7. | ||
| 90 | Procedural requirements for certain undertakings and orders | |
| Schedule 10 (which provides for the procedure for accepting certain enforcement undertakings and making certain enforcement orders and for their termination) shall have effect. | ||
| 91 | Register of undertakings and orders | |
| (1) The OFT shall compile and maintain a register for the purposes of this Part. | ||
| (2) The register shall be kept in such form as the OFT considers appropriate. | ||
| (3) The OFT shall ensure that the following matters are entered in the register- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (4) The duty in subsection (3) does not extend to anything of which the OFT is unaware. | ||
| (5) The Commission and the Secretary of State shall inform the OFT of any matters which are to be included in the register by virtue of subsection (3) and which relate to enforcement undertakings accepted by them, enforcement orders made by them or consents given by them. | ||
| (6) The OFT shall ensure that the contents of the register are available to the public- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (7) If requested by any person to do so and subject to such reasonable fees (if any) as the OFT may determine, the OFT shall supply the person concerned with a copy (certified to be true) of the register or of an extract from it. | ||
Enforcement functions of OFT | ||
| 92 | Duty of OFT to monitor undertakings and orders | |
| (1) The OFT shall keep under review- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) The OFT shall, in particular, from time to time consider- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (3) The OFT shall give the Commission or (as the case may be) the Secretary of State such advice as it considers appropriate in relation to- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (4) The OFT shall take such action as it considers appropriate in relation to- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| (5) The OFT shall keep under review the effectiveness of enforcement undertakings accepted under this Part and enforcement orders made under this Part. | ||
| (6) The OFT shall, whenever requested to do so by the Secretary of State and otherwise from time to time, prepare a report of its findings under subsection (5). | ||
| (7) The OFT shall- | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| 93 | Further role of OFT in relation to undertakings and orders | |
| (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where- | ||
| ||
| ||
| (2) The Commission or (as the case may be) the Secretary of State (in this section "the relevant authority") may require the OFT to consult with such persons as the relevant authority considers appropriate with a view to discovering whether they will offer undertakings which the relevant authority would be prepared to accept under section 80 or 82 or (as the case may be) paragraph 1, 3 or 9 of Schedule 7. | ||
| (3) The relevant authority may require the OFT to report to the relevant authority on the outcome of the OFT's consultations within such period as the relevant authority may require. | ||
| (4) A report under subsection (3) shall, in particular, contain advice from the OFT as to whether any undertakings offered should be accepted by the relevant authority under section 80 or 82 or (as the case may be) paragraph 1, 3 or 9 of Schedule 7. | ||
| (5) The powers conferred on the relevant authority by subsections (1) to (4) are without prejudice to the power of the relevant authority to consult the persons concerned itself. | ||
| (6) If asked by the relevant authority for advice in relation to the taking of enforcement action (whether or not by way of undertaking) in a particular case, the OFT shall give such advice as it considers appropriate. | ||
Other | ||
| 94 | Rights to enforce undertakings and orders | |
| (1) This section applies to any enforcement undertaking or enforcement order. | ||
| (2) Any person to whom such an undertaking or order relates shall have a duty to comply with it. | ||
| (3) The duty shall be owed to any person who may be affected by a contravention of the undertaking or (as the case may be) order. | ||
| (4) Any breach of the duty which causes such a person to sustain loss or damage shall be actionable by him. | ||
| (5) In any proceedings brought under subsection (4) against a person to whom an enforcement undertaking or an enforcement order relates it shall be a defence for that person to show that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid contravening the undertaking or (as the case may be) order. | ||
| (6) Compliance with an enforcement undertaking or an enforcement order shall also be enforceable by civil proceedings brought by the OFT for an injunction or for interdict or for any other appropriate relief or remedy. | ||
| (7) Compliance with an undertaking under section 80 or 82, an order made by the Commission under section 76 or an order under section 81, 83 or 84, shall also be enforceable by civil proceedings brought by the Commission for an injunction or for interdict or for any other appropriate relief or remedy. | ||
| (8) Compliance with an undertaking under paragraph 1, 3 or 9 of Schedule 7, an order made by the Secretary of State under paragraph 2 of that Schedule or an order under paragraph 5, 6, 10 or 11 of that Schedule, shall also be enforceable by civil proceedings brought by the Secretary of State for an injunction or for interdict or for any other appropriate relief or remedy. | ||
| (9) Subsections (6) to (8) shall not prejudice any right that a person may have by virtue of subsection (4) to bring civil proceedings for contravention or apprehended contravention of an enforcement undertaking or an enforcement order. | ||
| 95 | Rights to enforce statutory restrictions | |
| (1) The obligation to comply with section 77(2) or (3) or 78(2) or paragraph 7(2) or (3) or 8(2) of Schedule 7 shall be a duty owed to any person who may be affected by a contravention of the enactment concerned. | ||
| (2) Any breach of the duty which causes such a person to sustain loss or damage shall be actionable by him. | ||
| (3) In any proceedings brought under subsection (2) against a person who has an obligation to comply with section 77(2) or (3) or 78(2) or paragraph 7(2) or (3) or 8(2) of Schedule 7 it shall be a defence for that person to show that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid contravening the enactment concerned. | ||
| (4) Compliance with section 77(2) or (3) or 78(2) shall also be enforceable by civil proceedings brought by the OFT or the Commission for an injunction or for interdict or for any other appropriate relief or remedy. | ||
| (5) Compliance with paragraph 7(2) or (3) or 8(2) of Schedule 7 shall also be enforceable by civil proceedings brought by the OFT or the Secretary of State for an injunction or for interdict or for any other appropriate relief or remedy. | ||
| (6) Subsections (4) and (5) shall not prejudice any right that a person may have by virtue of subsection (2) to bring civil proceedings for contravention or apprehended contravention of section 77(2) or (3) or 78(2) or paragraph 7(2) or (3) or 8(2) of Schedule 7. | ||
![]() | ||
![]() ![]() | ||
| Other UK Acts | Home | Scotland Legislation | Wales Legislation | Company Formation Online | Company Formations in Republic of Ireland | Company Registration in Northern Ireland | Incorporate in California, Nevada, Florida and New York | Incorporate Offshore | ||
| © Crown copyright 2002 | Prepared 27 November 2002 |























