Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013

7U.K.After section 73 (undertakings in lieu of references under section 22 or 33) insert—

“73ATime-limits for consideration of undertakings

(1)A party concerned who wishes to offer an undertaking to the CMA for the purposes of section 73(2) must do so before the end of the period of 5 working days beginning with—

(a)the day after the CMA gives the person the notice required by section 34ZA(1)(b); or

(b)in a case where subsection (2) of section 34A applies, the day after the CMA gives the person the notice required by paragraph (b) of that subsection.

(2)If an undertaking is offered for those purposes, the CMA shall, before the end of the period of 10 working days beginning with the day mentioned in subsection (1)—

(a)decide whether there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertaking or a modified version of it might be accepted by the CMA under section 73(2), and

(b)if it considers that it might be, give notice to the person who offered the undertaking that it is considering it.

(3)If such a notice is given, the CMA shall decide whether to accept the undertaking before the end of the period of 50 working days beginning with the day mentioned in subsection (1).

(4)The CMA may extend the period mentioned in subsection (3), by no more than 40 working days, if it considers that there are special reasons for doing so.

(5)The CMA shall prepare and publish guidance in relation to the exercise of its power under subsection (4).

(6)The CMA may revise any such guidance and, where it does so, shall publish the revised statement.

(7)The CMA may extend the period mentioned in subsection (3) if it considers that a relevant person has failed (with or without reasonable excuse) to comply with any requirement of a notice given under section 109 in relation to the case in question.

(8)In subsection (7), “relevant person” means—

(a)any person carrying on any of the enterprises concerned;

(b)any person who (whether alone or as a member of a group) owns or has control of any such person; or

(c)any officer, employee or agent of any person mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(9)For the purposes of subsection (8), a person or group of persons able, directly or indirectly, to control or materially influence the policy of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate, but without having a controlling interest in that body of persons, may be treated as having control of it.

(10)An extension under subsection (4) or (7) comes into force when published under section 107.

(11)An extension under subsection (7) continues in force until—

(a)the person concerned provides the information or documents to the satisfaction of the CMA or (as the case may be) appears as a witness in accordance with the requirements of the CMA; or

(b)the CMA publishes its decision to cancel the extension.

(12)In this section and section 73B, “working day” means any day which is not—

(a)a Saturday, a Sunday, Good Friday or Christmas Day, or

(b)a day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales.

73BSection 73A: supplementary

(1)A period extended under section 73A(4) may also be extended under section 73A(7), and a period extended under section 73A(7) may also be extended under section 73A(4).

(2)No more than one extension is possible under section 73A(4).

(3)Where a period is extended or further extended under section 73A(4) or (7), the period as extended or (as the case may be) further extended is, subject to subsections (4) and (5), to be calculated by taking the period being extended and adding to it the period of the extension (whether or not those periods overlap in time).

(4)Subsection (5) applies where—

(a)the period within which the CMA must discharge its duty under section 73A(3) is further extended,

(b)the further extension and at least one previous extension is made under section 73A(7), and

(c)the same days or fractions of days are included in or comprise the further extension and are included in or comprise at least one such previous extension.

(5)In calculating the period of the further extension, any days or fractions of days of the kind mentioned in subsection (4)(c) are to be disregarded.

(6)The Secretary of State may by order amend section 73A so as to alter one or more of the periods for the time being mentioned in the section.

(7)But no alteration may be made by virtue of subsection (6) which results in—

(a)the period mentioned in section 73A(1) exceeding 5 working days;

(b)the period mentioned in section 73A(2) exceeding 10 working days;

(c)the period mentioned in section 73A(3) exceeding 50 working days;

(d)the period mentioned in section 73A(4) exceeding 40 working days.

(8)Before making an order under subsection (6) the Secretary of State shall consult the CMA and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.”