TVS Europe Distribution Limited / 3G Truck & Trailer Parts merger inquiry

The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition of 3G Truck & Trailer Parts Limited by TVS Europe Distribution Limited.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
12 February 2020
Last updated
12 July 2021 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Motor industry
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 prohibition
Opened:
12 February 2020
Closed:
12 July 2021

Phase 2

Case closure summary

12 July 2021: The purchase of the 3G Business by 3G Holdco Limited from TVS Europe Distribution Limited was approved by the CMA and completed on 9 July 2021. This brings the merger investigation to a close.

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 12 June 2020

Statutory deadline: 21 January 2021

Remedy group appointed

22 April 2021: The CMA appointed the following panel group members to the TVS/3G remedy group.

Kirstin Baker (Chair), Humphrey Battcock, Ulrike Hotopp, and Stephen Rose

Final undertakings

30 March 2021: The CMA has accepted final undertakings.

Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings

23 February 2021: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments by 5pm on 9 March 2021.

Final report

Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies

Notice of extension of inquiry period

21 October 2020: The Inquiry Group has decided to extend by eight weeks under section 39(3) of the Enterprise Act 2002 (the Act) the period for the preparation and publication of its report on the reference, as it considers that there are special reasons why the report cannot be prepared and published within the period specified in section 39(1) of the Act. The revised period will therefore end on 21 January 2021. However, the Inquiry Group aims to complete the inquiry as soon as possible and in advance of this date.

Provisional Findings

20 October 2020: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the completed acquisition by TVS Europe Distribution Limited of 3G Truck & Trailer Parts Ltd.

Directions

On 19 June the CMA issued directions under paragraph 12 of the Initial Enforcement Order.

Issues statement

6 July 2020: 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. The deadline for submissions on the issues statement is 5pm on Monday 20 July 2020.

Inquiry group appointed

23 June 2020: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group.

Kirstin Baker (Chair), Humphrey Battcock, Ulrike Hotopp, Stephen Rose

Terms of reference

12 June 2020: the CMA has referred the completed acquisition by TVS Europe Distribution Limited of 3G Truck and Trailer Parts Ltd for an in-depth investigation.

Phase 1

Date Action
2 June 2020 Decision announced
1-17 April 2020 Invitation to comment
1 April 2020 Launch of merger inquiry
10 February 2020 Initial enforcement order

Response to phase 1 decision

Reference decision

12 June 2020: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by TVS Europe Distribution Limited of 3G Truck and Trailer Parts Ltd for an in-depth investigation, on the basis that, on the information currently available to it, it is or may be the case that this merger constitutes a relevant merger situation that has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

2 June 2020: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted or 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.

Invitation to comment: now closed

1 April 2020: The Competition and Markets Authority 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 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.

Launch of merger inquiry

1 April 2020: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties. The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by TVS Europe Distribution Limited of 3G Truck and Trailer Parts Ltd.

Initial enforcement order

10 February 2020: the CMA has served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Universal Components UK Limited, TVS Europe Distribution Limited and TVS Automobile Solutions Private Limited, in relation to the completed acquisition of 3G Truck & Trailer Parts Limited by TVS Europe Distribution Limited.

Amendments/consents granted:

Contact

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

Jayati Handa

jayati.handa@cma.gov.uk

Published 12 February 2020
Last updated 12 July 2021 + show all updates

  1. Case closure summary published.

  2. Remedy group appointed.

  3. The CMA has accepted final undertakings.

  4. Derogation published.

  5. Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings and draft final undertakings published.

  6. Derogation published.

  7. Derogation published.

  8. Final report, including appendices and glossary, published.

  9. Derogations published.

  10. Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies published.

  11. Notice of extension and revised admin timetable published.

  12. Full provisional findings report, appendices and glossary, notice of provisional findings and notice of possible remedies published.

  13. Provisional findings announced and summary published.

  14. Directions published.

  15. Parties' response to phase 1 decision published.

  16. Full text decision and issues statement published.

  17. Inquiry group and administration table published.

  18. Reference decision and Terms of reference published.

  19. Phase 1 decision announced and summary of full text decision published.

  20. Commencement notice and invitation to comment published.

  21. Derogation published

  22. First published.

Contents