Euro Car Parts / Andrew Page merger inquiry
The CMA investigated the completed acquisition by Euro Car Parts Limited of assets of the Andrew Page business.
Phase 2
Administrative timetable
Date of referral: 22.5.17
Statutory deadline: 5.11.17
- (2.6.17)
Contact
Case closure summary
4 September 2018: Euro Car Parts Limited (ECP) has completed its sale of Andrew Page depots in nine local areas to Hilco Capital, a purchaser approved by the CMA. This brings the merger investigation to a close.
- (4.9.18)
Remedy group appointed
1 April 2018: Following the expiry of the term of appointment of Lesley Ainsworth, Susan Hankey was appointed the chair.
17 January 2018: On the 16 January 2018, the CMA appointed the following panel group members to the Euro Car Parts remedy group.
Lesley Ainsworth (Chair), Susan Hankey, Ulrike Hotopp and Keith Richards.
Final undertakings
12 January 2018: The CMA has accepted undertakings from Euro Car Parts and Andrew Page to remedy the substantial lessening of competition identified in the final report.
- (12.1.18)
Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings
8 December 2017: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments by 5pm on 2 January 2018.
- (8.12.17)
- (8.12.17)
Final report
- (PDF, 2.2 MB) (31.10.17)
- (PDF, 3.1 MB) (31.10.17)
- Press release: Car parts supplier must sell local depots to maintain competition (31.10.17)
Provisional findings
14 September 2017: The CMA has provisionally found that the purchase by Euro Car Parts of much of the Andrew Page business could damage competition in 10 local areas.
- (14.9.17)
- (14.9.17)
- (14.9.17)
- (14.9.17)
- (14.9.17)
- Press release: CMA finds customers could lose out due to car parts merger (14.9.17)
Evidence
The publication of the evidence of any party on the CMA’s webpages 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.
List of calls with third parties
- (updated 27.10.17)
Response hearing summaries
- (11.10.17)
- (11.10.17)
Responses to provisional findings and notice of possible remedies
- (11.10.17)
- (28.9.17)
Response to issues statement
- (3.7.17)
Response to the phase 1 decision
- (15.6.17)
Analysis
Customer research survey: CMA-commissioned research
- (31.8.17)
Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee
30 June 2017: On 22 June 2017, pursuant to an initial enforcement order dated 12 October 2016, the CMA directed Euro Car Parts Limited to appoint a monitoring trustee.
- (30.6.17)
Directions in relation to property licences
30 June 2017: On 22 June 2017, pursuant to an initial enforcement order dated 12 October 2016, the CMA directed Euro Car Parts Limited to use best endeavours to obtain an extension of each licence to occupy property from which Andrew Page 1917 Limited operates.
- (30.6.17)
Issues statement
15 June 2017: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.
- (15.6.17)
Inquiry group
5 January 2018: Following the expiry of the term of appointment of Professor Alasdair Smith, Lesley Ainsworth was appointed the chair. On 3 January 2018, Ulrike Hotopp was appointed to the inquiry group.
26 May 2017: The CMA appointed the inquiry group on 22 May 2017.
Professor Alasdair Smith (Inquiry Chair), Lesley Ainsworth and Rosalind Hedley-Miller.
Terms of reference
22 May 2017: The CMA has referred Euro Car Parts’ merger with Andrew Page for an in-depth investigation.
- (22.5.17)
Phase 1
Statutory timetable
| Phase 1 date | Action |
|---|---|
| 15 June 2017 | Decision published |
| 10 May 2017 | Decision announced |
| 10 to 24 March 2017 | Invitation to comment |
| 10 March 2017 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 12 October 2016 | Initial enforcement order |
Reference decision
- (22.5.17)
- News story: Car parts merger referred for in-depth investigation (22.5.17)
Reference unless undertakings accepted
10 May 2017: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision is available below.
- (15.6.17)
- News story: Car parts merger faces in-depth investigation (10.5.17)
Invitation to comment: Now closed
10 March 2017: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether 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.
Launch of merger inquiry
10 March 2017: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
Initial enforcement order
On 12 October 2016, the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on ECP Newco Limited, Euro Car Parts Limited, LKQ Euro Limited and LKQ Corporation, in relation to the completed acquisition by Euro Car Parts Limited of assets of the Andrew Page business.
- (14.10.16)
Amendments/consents granted:
- (30.5.18)
- (16.4.18)
- (28.2.18)
- (18.12.17)
- (28.11.17)
- (16.11.17)
- (10.5.17)
- (21.3.17)
- (28.2.17)
- (21.12.16)
- (16.11.16)
- (26.10.16)
- (26.10.16)
Last updated 4 September 2018 + show all updates
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Case closure summary published.
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Derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Remedy group appointed.
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Final undertakings published.
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Inquiry group appointments updated.
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Derogation published.
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Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings published.
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Derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Final report published.
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Updated list of calls with third parties published (under 'Evidence').
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Updated list of calls with third parties published (under 'Evidence').
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Response to provisional findings and response hearing summaries published.
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Response to notice of possible remedies published.
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List of calls with third parties published (under 'Evidence').
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Full provisional findings report published.
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Summary of provisional findings report published.
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Research survey report published.
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Response to issues statement published.
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Directions to appoint monitoring trustee and directions in relation to property licences published.
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Issues statement, full text decision and response published.
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Timetable published.
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Inquiry group appointments added.
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Reference decision announced and terms of reference published.
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Reference unless undertakings accepted decision announced, and derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Launch of merger inquiry.
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Derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Derogations published.
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First published.