LKQ Corporation / Uni-Select merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by LKQ Corporation of Uni-Select Inc.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
15 June 2023
Last updated
25 September 2023 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Motor industry
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 1 clearance with undertakings in lieu
Opened:
15 June 2023

Statutory timetable

Date Action
15 September 2023 Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
18 August 2023 to 1 September 2023 Consultation on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference
31 July 2023 Initial enforcement order
28 July 2023 CMA to consider undertakings offered
21 July 2023 Decision announced
15 June 2023 Launch of merger inquiry
15 June 2023 to 22 June 2023 Invitation to comment

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

15 September 2023: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference to a Phase 2 investigation offered by LKQ Corporation.

Amendments/consents granted

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: closed

18 August 2023: The CMA is consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference to a Phase 2 investigation offered by LKQ Corporation.

Initial enforcement order

31 July 2023: The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on LKQ Corporation, Euro Car Parts Limited, 121222 Holdco Limited (owner of GSF Car Parts) and its subsidiaries.

Amendments / consents granted

CMA to consider undertakings offered

28 July 2023: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by LKQ Corporation, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

21 July 2023: 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.

Launch merger inquiry

15 June 2023: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: now closed

15 June 2023: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, 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.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.

These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest issues to: general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk.

Published 15 June 2023
Last updated 25 September 2023 + show all updates

  1. Derogation published

  2. Full text decision and Final undertakings published.

  3. Consultation on proposed undertakings announced.

  4. Derogation published

  5. Derogation published.

  6. Derogation letters published

  7. Initial enforcement order published.

  8. CMA to consider undertakings offered

  9. Decision published.

  10. First published.