COMPETITION
COMMISSION News Release (29/08) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 14 October 2008
Issues Statement
The Competition Commission (CC) has today published an Issues
Statement as part of its inquiry into the completed acquisition by
Nufarm Crop Products UK Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Nufarm UK Limited whose ultimate parent company is Nufarm Limited,
a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange) of AH Marks
Holdings Limited (AH Marks).
The Issues Statement follows the initial process of gathering
information, views and evidence and identifies clearly for all
interested parties the specific questions and areas the inquiry is
examining. The full Issues Statement is available at http://www.competition-commission.
org.uk.
The reference was made by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on 29
August and the CC has been asked to decide whether the acquisition
may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of
competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or
services, including that for the supply of two phenoxy acetic
acids, technically known as 'MCPA' and
'2,4-D', which are chemicals used to make herbicides.
The Issues Statement should not be seen as implying that the CC
has identified any competition concerns-the CC has yet to reach
any conclusions on this inquiry. The purpose of making the
statement of issues public is to inform all interested parties and
give them an opportunity to raise any further points with the CC.
The CC is expected to report by 12 February 2009.
The CC would like to hear views from all interested parties on
the Issues Statement, in writing, by 28 October 2008. To submit
evidence, please email david.duparc@cc.gsi.gov.uk or write
to:
David du Parc Braham
Inquiry Manager
Competition
Commission
Victoria House
Southampton
Row
LONDON
WC1B 4AD
Notes for editors
1. The CC is an independent public body,
which carries out investigations into mergers, markets and the
regulated industries.
2. The Enterprise Act 2002 empowers the OFT to refer to the CC
completed or proposed mergers for investigation and report which
create or enhance a 25 per cent share of supply in the UK (or a
substantial part thereof) or where the UK turnover associated with
the enterprise being acquired is over £70 million.
3. The members of the Nufarm/AH Marks Inquiry Group are: Peter
Freeman, Richard Taylor, Jonathan Whiticar and Jeremy Peat.
4. The CC has a 24-week period in which it is required to publish
its report, which may be extended by no more than eight weeks if
it considers that there are special reasons why the report cannot
be published within that period.
5. Further information on this inquiry, including the Terms of
Reference and other key documents, as well as on the CC and its
procedures, including its policy on the provision of information
and the disclosure of evidence, can be obtained from the CC
website at: http://www.competition-commission.org.uk.
6. Enquiries should be directed to Rory Taylor on 020 7271 0242
(email rory.taylor@cc.gsi.gov.uk).