Enterprise Act 2002

Undertakings and orders

154Undertakings in lieu of market investigation references

(1)Subsection (2) applies if the OFT considers that it has the power to make a reference under section 131 and otherwise intends to make such a reference.

(2)The OFT may, instead of making such a reference and for the purpose of remedying, mitigating or preventing—

(a)any adverse effect on competition concerned; or

(b)any detrimental effect on customers so far as it has resulted from, or may be expected to result from, the adverse effect on competition;

accept, from such persons as it considers appropriate, undertakings to take such action as it considers appropriate.

(3)In proceeding under subsection (2), the OFT shall, in particular, have regard to the need to achieve as comprehensive a solution as is reasonable and practicable to the adverse effect on competition concerned and any detrimental effects on customers so far as resulting from the adverse effect on competition.

(4)In proceeding under subsection (2), the OFT may, in particular, have regard to the effect of any action on any relevant customer benefits of the feature or features of the market concerned.

(5)The OFT shall take no action under subsection (2) to remedy, mitigate or prevent any detrimental effect on customers so far as it may be expected to result from the adverse effect on competition concerned if—

(a)no detrimental effect on customers has resulted from the adverse effect on competition; and

(b)the adverse effect on competition is not being remedied, mitigated or prevented.

(6)An undertaking under this section—

(a)shall come into force when accepted;

(b)may be varied or superseded by another undertaking; and

(c)may be released by the OFT.

(7)The OFT shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section.

(8)This section is subject to sections 150 and 155.

155Undertakings in lieu: procedural requirements

(1)Before accepting an undertaking under section 154 (other than an undertaking under that section which varies an undertaking under that section but not in any material respect), the OFT shall—

(a)publish notice of the proposed undertaking; and

(b)consider any representations made in accordance with the notice and not withdrawn.

(2)A notice under subsection (1) shall state—

(a)that the OFT proposes to accept the undertaking;

(b)the purpose and effect of the undertaking;

(c)the situation that the undertaking is seeking to deal with;

(d)any other facts which the OFT considers justify the acceptance of the undertaking;

(e)a means of gaining access to an accurate version of the proposed undertaking at all reasonable times; and

(f)the period (not less than 15 days starting with the date of publication of the notice) within which representations may be made in relation to the proposed undertaking.

(3)The matters to be included in a notice under subsection (1) by virtue of subsection (2) shall, in particular, include—

(a)the terms of the reference under section 131 which the OFT considers that it has power to make and which it otherwise intends to make; and

(b)the adverse effect on competition, and any detrimental effect on customers so far as resulting from the adverse effect on competition, which the OFT has identified.

(4)The OFT shall not accept the undertaking with modifications unless it—

(a)publishes notice of the proposed modifications; and

(b)considers any representations made in accordance with the notice and not withdrawn.

(5)A notice under subsection (4) shall state—

(a)the proposed modifications;

(b)the reasons for them; and

(c)the period (not less than 7 days starting with the date of the publication of the notice under subsection (4)) within which representations may be made in relation to the proposed modifications.

(6)If, after publishing notice under subsection (1) or (4), the OFT decides—

(a)not to accept the undertaking concerned; and

(b)not to proceed by virtue of subsection (8) or (9);

it shall publish notice of that decision.

(7)As soon as practicable after accepting an undertaking to which this section applies, the OFT shall—

(a)serve a copy of the undertaking on any person by whom it is given; and

(b)publish the undertaking.

(8)The requirements of subsection (4) (and those of subsection (1)) shall not apply if the OFT—

(a)has already published notice under subsection (1) but not subsection (4) in relation to the proposed undertaking; and

(b)considers that the modifications which are now being proposed are not material in any respect.

(9)The requirements of subsection (4) (and those of subsection (1)) shall not apply if the OFT—

(a)has already published notice under subsections (1) and (4) in relation to the matter concerned; and

(b)considers that the further modifications which are now being proposed do not differ in any material respect from the modifications in relation to which notice was last given under subsection (4).

(10)Paragraphs 6 to 8 (but not paragraph 9) of Schedule 10 (procedural requirements before terminating undertakings) shall apply in relation to the proposed release of undertakings under section 154 (other than in connection with accepting an undertaking under that section which varies or supersedes an undertaking under that section) as they apply in relation to the proposed release of undertakings under section 73.

156Effect of undertakings under section 154

(1)No market investigation reference shall be made by the OFT or the appropriate Minister in relation to any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services if—

(a)the OFT has accepted an undertaking or group of undertakings under section 154 within the previous 12 months; and

(b)the goods or services to which the undertaking or group of undertakings relates are of the same description as the goods or services to which the feature, or combination of features, relates.

(2)Subsection (1) does not prevent the making of a market investigation reference if—

(a)the OFT considers that any undertaking concerned has been breached and has given notice of that fact to the person responsible for giving the undertaking; or

(b)the person responsible for giving any undertaking concerned supplied, in connection with the matter, information to the OFT which was false or misleading in a material respect.

157Interim undertakings: Part 4

(1)Subsection (2) applies where—

(a)a market investigation reference has been made;

(b)a report has been published under section 136 within the period permitted by section 137 or (as the case may be) a report prepared under section 142 and given to the Secretary of State under section 143(3) within the period permitted by section 144 has been published; and

(c)the market investigation reference concerned is not finally determined.

(2)The relevant authority may, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action, accept, from such persons as the relevant authority considers appropriate, undertakings to take such action as the relevant authority considers appropriate.

(3)An undertaking under this section—

(a)shall come into force when accepted;

(b)may be varied or superseded by another undertaking; and

(c)may be released by the relevant authority.

(4)An undertaking under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force, cease to be in force when the market investigation reference is finally determined.

(5)The relevant authority shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by the relevant authority in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section.

(6)In this section and section 158—

• “pre-emptive action” means action which might impede the taking of any action under section 138(2) or (as the case may be) 147(2) in relation to the market investigation reference concerned; and

• “the relevant authority” means—

  (a)

  where an intervention notice is in force in relation to the market investigation reference, the Secretary of State;

  (b)

  in any other case, the Commission.

158Interim orders: Part 4

(1)Subsection (2) applies where—

(a)a market investigation reference has been made;

(b)a report has been published under section 136 within the period permitted by section 137 or (as the case may be) a report prepared under section 142 and given to the Secretary of State under section 143(3) within the period permitted by section 144 has been published; and

(c)the market investigation reference concerned is not finally determined.

(2)The relevant authority may by order, for the purpose of preventing pre-emptive action—

(a)prohibit or restrict the doing of things which the relevant authority considers would constitute pre-emptive action;

(b)impose on any person concerned obligations as to the carrying on of any activities or the safeguarding of any assets;

(c)provide for the carrying on of any activities or the safeguarding of any assets either by the appointment of a person to conduct or supervise the conduct of any activities (on such terms and with such powers as may be specified or described in the order) or in any other manner;

(d)do anything which may be done by virtue of paragraph 19 of Schedule 8.

(3)An order under this section—

(a)shall come into force at such time as is determined by or under the order; and

(b)may be varied or revoked by another order.

(4)An order under this section shall, if it has not previously ceased to be in force, cease to be in force when the market investigation reference is finally determined.

(5)The relevant authority shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by the relevant authority in relation to varying or revoking an order under this section.

159Final undertakings: Part 4

(1)The Commission may, in accordance with section 138, accept, from such persons as it considers appropriate, undertakings to take action specified or described in the undertakings.

(2)The Secretary of State may, in accordance with section 147, accept, from such persons as he considers appropriate, undertakings to take action specified or described in the undertakings.

(3)An undertaking under this section shall come into force when accepted.

(4)An undertaking under subsection (1) or (2) may be varied or superseded by another undertaking under that subsection.

(5)An undertaking under subsection (1) may be released by the Commission and an undertaking under subsection (2) may be released by the Secretary of State.

(6)The Commission or (as the case may be) the Secretary of State shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by it or (as the case may be) him in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this section.

160Order-making power where final undertakings not fulfilled: Part 4

(1)Subsection (2) applies where the relevant authority considers that—

(a)an undertaking accepted by the relevant authority under section 159 has not been, is not being or will not be fulfilled; or

(b)in relation to an undertaking accepted by the relevant authority under that section, information which was false or misleading in a material respect was given to the relevant authority or the OFT by the person giving the undertaking before the relevant authority decided to accept the undertaking.

(2)The relevant authority may, for any of the purposes mentioned in section 138(2) or (as the case may be) 147(2), make an order under this section.

(3)Subsections (3) to (6) of section 138 or (as the case may be) 147 shall apply for the purposes of subsection (2) above as they apply for the purposes of that section.

(4)An order under this section may contain—

(a)anything permitted by Schedule 8; and

(b)such supplementary, consequential or incidental provision as the relevant authority considers appropriate.

(5)An order under this section—

(a)shall come into force at such time as is determined by or under the order;

(b)may contain provision which is different from the provision contained in the undertaking concerned; and

(c)may be varied or revoked by another order.

(6)No order shall be varied or revoked under this section unless the OFT advises that such a variation or revocation is appropriate by reason of a change of circumstances.

(7)In this section “the relevant authority” means—

(a)in the case of an undertaking accepted under section 159 by the Commission, the Commission; and

(b)in the case of an undertaking accepted under that section by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State.

161Final orders: Part 4

(1)The Commission may, in accordance with section 138, make an order under this section.

(2)The Secretary of State may, in accordance with section 147, make an order under this section.

(3)An order under this section may contain—

(a)anything permitted by Schedule 8; and

(b)such supplementary, consequential or incidental provision as the person making it considers appropriate.

(4)An order under this section—

(a)shall come into force at such time as is determined by or under the order; and

(b)may be varied or revoked by another order.

(5)No order shall be varied or revoked under this section unless the OFT advises that such a variation or revocation is appropriate by reason of a change of circumstances.