MRH (GB) / Esso Petroleum Company merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the acquisition by MRH (GB) Limited of 78 petrol stations from Esso Petroleum Company Limited.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
4 February 2016
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Oil and gas refining and petrochemicals
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 1 clearance with undertakings in lieu
Opened:
10 September 2015
Closed:
19 January 2016

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
19 January 2015 Undertakings in lieu accepted
23 December 2015 Decision published
26 November 2015 Decision announced
9 to 23 October 2015 Invitation to comment
9 October 2015 Launch of merger inquiry
10 September 2015 Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

19 January 2016: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the acquisition by MRH (GB) Limited of 78 petrol stations from Esso Petroleum Company Limited. A copy of the undertakings and the decision are available below.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: now closed

23 December 2015: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the acquisition by MRH (GB) Limited of 78 petrol stations from Esso Petroleum Company Limited.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

10 December 2015: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by MRH, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. A copy of the notice is available below.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

26 November 2015: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger, if carried into effect, 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 MRH offers acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision is available below.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

9 October 2015: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted 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 has resulted, or 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 CMA merger inquiry

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

Initial enforcement order

10 September 2015: The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on MRH (GB) Limited, Malthurst South East Limited and Malthurst Anglia Limited in relation to the acquisition of 78 petrol stations from Esso Petroleum Company Limited.

Amendments/consents granted:

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:

Reena Ravinder Matharoo
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4AD

reenaravinder.matharoo@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Published 4 February 2016

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