Aragorn (KKR & Co Inc)/OverDrive Holdings Inc merger inquiry

The CMA investigated and cleared the completed acquisition by Aragorn Parent Corporation (KKR & Co Inc) of OverDrive Holdings Inc.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 26 March 2020
• Last updated: 28 July 2020 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Communications, Distribution and service industries
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 clearance
• Opened: 26 March 2020
• Closed: 28 July 2020

Date	Action
28 July 2020	Decision published
16 June 2020	Decision announced
8 June 2020	Initial enforcement order
17 April 2020	Launch of merger inquiry
26 March 2020 to 16 April 2020	Invitation to comment

CMA clearance decision

16 June 2020: The CMA has cleared the acquisition by Aragorn Parent Corporation (KKR & Co Inc) of OverDrive Holdings Inc, using the ‘de minimis’ exception.

• Full text decision (28.7.20)

Initial enforcement order

8 June 2020: The CMA has served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in relation to the anticipated acquisition by Aragorn Parent Corporation (KKR & Co Inc) of OverDrive Holdings Inc.

• Initial enforcement order (11.6.20)

Amendments/consents granted

• Derogation 11 June 2020 (12.6.20)
• Variation of derogation 11 June 2020 (12.6.20)
• Derogation 8 June 2020 (11.6.20)
• Derogation 8 June 2020 (11.6.20)

Launch of merger inquiry

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

• Commencement notice (17.4.20)

Invitation to comment: closed 16 April 2020

26 March 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.

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

• Invitation to comment (26.2.20)

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to: general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Published 26 March 2020
Last updated 28 July 2020 + show all updates

1. 28 July 2020

   Full text of the clearance decision published.

2. 16 June 2020

   Clearance decision announced.

3. 12 June 2020

   Derogation published.

4. 11 June 2020

   Initial enforcement order and derogations published

5. 17 April 2020

   Launch of merger inquiry announced and commencement notice published.

6. 26 March 2020

   First published.