Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Incorporated / Euro Auctions Group merger inquiry

The CMA has investigated the anticipated acquisition by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated of Euro Auctions Group.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
13 December 2021
Last updated
11 August 2022 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Retail and wholesale
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 cancellation
Opened:
13 December 2021
Closed:
3 May 2022

Phase 2

Administrative Timetable

Date of Reference: 18 March 2022

Statutory deadline: 22 September 2022

Merger reference cancelled

3 May 2022: The CMA has cancelled its merger inquiry into the anticipated acquisition by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated of Euro Auctions Group.

Notices

Contact

[email protected]

Inquiry group appointed

18 March 2022: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:

Margot Daly (Chair), Robin Foster, Sheila McClelland and Stephen Rose.

Terms of reference

18 March 2022: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated of Euro Auctions Group for an in-depth investigation.

Phase 1

Statutory timetable

Date Action
4 March 2022 Decision announced
7 January 2022 Launch of merger inquiry
13 December to 4 January 2022 Invitation to comment

Reference decision

18 March 2022: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated of Euro Auctions Group 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 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

4 March 2022: 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 an in-depth investigation unless Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated offers acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.

Launch of merger inquiry

7 January 2022: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: closed

13 December 2021: The 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 issues to: [email protected]

Updates to this page

Published 13 December 2021
Last updated 11 August 2022 + show all updates

  1. Full text of reference decision published.

  2. Notice of extension and notice of cancellation of merger reference published.

  3. Full text decision published

  4. Phase 2 Terms of reference published and inquiry group appointed.

  5. Summary of Phase 1 decision published.

  6. Launch of merger inquiry published.

  7. First published.

Contents