Adevinta / eBay merger inquiry

The CMA is investigated the anticipated acquisition by Adevinta ASA of eBay Classifieds Group from eBay Inc., and eBay Inc.’s acquisition of a minority stake in Adevinta ASA.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
2 December 2020
Last updated
30 June 2021 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Retail and wholesale
Outcome:
Markets - phase 1 undertakings in lieu of reference
Opened:
2 December 2020
Closed:
3 December 2021

Statutory timetable

Date Action
2 June 2021 Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
2 March 2021 CMA to consider undertakings offered
16 February 2021 Decision announced
17 December 2020 Launch of merger inquiry
2 December to 16 December 2020 Invitation to comment

Phase 1

Case Closure

3 December 2021: The purchase of Gumtree UK (including motors.co.uk) by a consortium consisting of O3 Industries and Novum Capital was approved by the CMA and completed on 30 November 2021. This brings the merger investigation to a close.

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

2 June 2021: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by Adevinta ASA of eBay Classifieds Group from eBay Inc., and eBay Inc.’s acquisition of a minority stake in Adevinta ASA.

Undertakings in Lieu of reference consultation: closed 11 May 2021

27 April 2021: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the anticipated acquisition by Adevinta ASA of eBay Classifieds Group from eBay Inc., and eBay Inc.’s acquisition of a minority stake in Adevinta ASA.

Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu

27 April 2021: The CMA has extended the consideration of undertakings in lieu until 28 June 2021.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

2 March 2021: Adevinta ASA and eBay Inc. offered undertakings to the CMA, which involve divesting Adevinta’s Shpock and eBay’s UK Gumtree business (including Motors.co.uk). The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Adevinta and eBay, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

16 February 2021: 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 a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.

Launch of merger inquiry

17 December 2020: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: closed 16 December 2020

2 December 2020: The Competition and Markets Authority (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.

Adevinta ASA is active in the UK through its online classified advertising platforms Shpock, Agriaffaires, MachineryZone and Truckscorner. eBay Classifieds Group is active in the UK through its online classified advertising platforms, Gumtree and Motors.co.uk. In addition to eBay Classifieds Group, eBay Inc. is the owner of eBay Marketplace.

These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:

general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 2 December 2020
Last updated 30 June 2021 + show all updates

  1. Full text of the decision to accept undertakings published.

  2. Final undertakings published.

  3. Consultation on proposed undertakings with the notice of consultation and proposed undertakings published. The CMA has extended the consideration of undertakings in lieu until 28 June 2021.

  4. Full text decisions to refer unless undertakings accepted and the undertakings offered published.

  5. CMA to consider undertakings offered now announced.

  6. Reference unless undertakings accepted published, with link to news story, published.

  7. Commencement notice published

  8. First published.

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