CMA Investigation
An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, the UK's independent competition regulator, into suspected anti-competitive agreements or cartels, abuse of a dominant position, mergers that may substantially lessen competition, or wider market problems.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is an independent non-ministerial government department that promotes competition and protects consumers. Among its core responsibilities, the CMA investigates mergers that have the potential to lead to a substantial lessening of competition, and can block a merger or impose remedies if it concludes competition would be reduced substantially. It also takes action against businesses and individuals that take part in cartels or other anti-competitive behaviour, and investigates entire markets where it considers there may be competition or consumer problems.
Where the CMA investigates suspected infringements under the Competition Act 1998 — covering both the Chapter I prohibition on anti-competitive agreements and the Chapter II prohibition on abuse of a dominant position — it follows a published set of investigation procedures (CMA8), which also sets out the statutory guidance on the circumstances in which the CMA may accept commitments from businesses instead of pursuing a full infringement decision. Decisions in some CMA investigations are made by independent members of a CMA panel, and the CMA's work overall is overseen by its Board and senior team.
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Official sources
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