BT Group / EE merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by BT Group plc of EE Limited.

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 9.6.15

Statutory deadline: 18.1.16 (with 8 week extension)

Full administrative timetable

Contact

Email: BT.EE@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Final report

Provisional findings

28 October 2015: The CMA has provisionally cleared BT’s anticipated acquisition of EE.

Issues statement

17 July 2015: The issues statement sets out the scope of the investigation. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it doesn’t set out findings or conclusions.

Evidence

The publication of the evidence of any party on the CMA’s web pages does not indicate in any way endorsement by the CMA of the views expressed in the evidence or acceptance of that evidence. Publication in this way is designed to assist public understanding of the issues.

Responses to provisional findings

Hearing summaries

As part of its evidence-gathering process, the CMA is holding hearings with a range of industry customers and interested parties.

Responses to issues statement

Initial submissions

The CMA’s merger inquiry is independent and welcomes submissions from all interested parties.

$PriorityList:6 * Ofcom further submission (15.10.15) * Schedule 1 (15.10.15) * Gamma (11.9.15) * Dixons Carphone (10.8.15) * Dixons Carphone’s supporting evidence (PDF, 1.45 Mb) (10.8.15) * TalkTalk Group (24.7.15) * 02 Telefonica (24.7.15) * Arqiva (24.7.15) * UK Broadband (24.7.15) * FCS and iMVNOx (24.7.15) * CityFibre (24.7.15) * Three (23.7.15) * Sky (21.7.15) * Gamma (17.7.15) * Gamma (17.7.15) * Gamma (17.7.15) * Sky (17.7.15) * SSE (17.7.15) * TalkTalk Group (17.7.15) * TalkTalk Group (17.7.15) * Virgin Media (17.7.15) * Vodafone (17.7.15) * BT Group plc (15.7.15) * EE Limited (15.7.15)

CMA staff disclosure of interests

Inquiry group appointed

19 June 2015: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group.

John Wotton (Inquiry Chair), Robin Aaronson, Dr Graham Sharp and Bob Spedding.

Terms of reference

9 June 2015: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by BT Group plc of EE Limited for an in-depth phase 2 investigation.

Phase 1

Phase 1 date Action
24 June 2015 Decision published
9 June 2015 Decision announced
18 May 2015 Launch of merger inquiry
18 May to 26 May 2015 Invitation to comment
4 March to 18 March 2015 Preliminary invitation to comment

Reference decision

Launch of merger inquiry

18 May 2015: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

CMA staff disclosure

Published 4 March 2015
Last updated 15 January 2016 + show all updates
  1. Full final report published.

  2. Summary of final report published.

  3. First published.