NortonLifeLock Inc. / Avast plc merger inquiry

The CMA investigated and cleared the anticipated acquisition by NortonLifeLock Inc. of Avast plc.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 19 January 2022
• Last updated: 2 September 2022 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Electronics
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 2 clearance
• Opened: 18 January 2022
• Closed: 2 September 2022

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Date of referral 25 March 2022

Statutory deadline 8 September 2022

• Administrative timetable (1.4.22)

Final report

2 September 2022: The CMA has published its final report.

• Final report (2.9.22)
• Appendices and glossary (2.9.22)
• Summary of final report (2.9.22)
• Press release: CMA clears NortonLifeLock / Avast merger (2.9.22)

Responses to provisional findings

Parties response to provisional findings (15.8.22)

Provisional findings

3 August 2022: The CMA has provisionally cleared the anticipated acquisition by NortonLifeLock Inc. of Avast plc.

The deadline for submitting responses to the provisional findings is 5pm on Wednesday 24 August 2022.

• Provisional findings report (4.8.22)
• Appendices and glossary (4.8.22)
• Summary of provisional findings (3.8.22)
• Notice of provisional findings (3.8.22)
• Press release: CMA provisionally clears NortonLifeLock / Avast merger (3.8.22)

Responses to issues statement

• Fund B response to issues statement (29.7.22)
• Fund A response to issues statement (29.7.22)
• Individual A response to issues statement (17.6.22)
• Parties response to issues statement (14.6.22)

Issues statement

5 May 2022: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition and outlines the main issues the CMA are likely to consider in reaching a decision on the SLC question. The issues statement does not set out findings or conclusions. The deadline for submissions on the issues statement is midnight, BST on Thursday 19 May 2022.

• Issues statement (5.5.22)

Inquiry group appointed

25 March 2022: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group.

Kirstin Baker (Chair), Paul Hughes, Robin Cohen, Keith Richards

Terms of reference

25 March 2022: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by NortonLifeLock Inc. of Avast plc for an in-depth investigation.

• Terms of reference (25.3.22)

Phase 1

Statutory timetable

Date	Action
16 May	Decision published
16 March 2022	Decision announced
19 January 2022	Launch of merger inquiry
19 January 2022 to 2 February 2022	Invitation to comment

Reference decision

25 March 2022: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by NortonLifeLock Inc. of Avast plc 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.

• Decision to refer (25.3.22)

Reference unless undertakings accepted

16 March 2022: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that 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. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.

• Full text decision (16.5.22)
• Summary of Phase 1 decision (16.3.22)
• Press notice: CMA finds NortonLifeLock purchase of Avast could reduce competition (16.3.22)

Launch of merger inquiry

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

• Commencement notice (19.1.22)

Invitation to comment: closed 2 February 2022

19 January 2022: 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 general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk.

Published 19 January 2022
Last updated 2 September 2022 + show all updates

1. 2 September 2022

   Summary of final report, full final report and appendices and glossary published.

2. 15 August 2022

   Party response to provisional findings published.

3. 4 August 2022

   Provisional findings, appendices and glossary published

4. 3 August 2022

   Summary of provisional findings and notice of provisional findings published.

5. 29 July 2022

   Third party responses to issues statement published.

6. 17 June 2022

   Third party response to issues statement published.

7. 14 June 2022

   Parties response to issues statement published.

8. 16 May 2022

   Full text decision published.

9. 5 May 2022

   Issues statement published.

10. 1 April 2022

    Administrative timetable and inquiry group appointed published.

11. 25 March 2022

    Decision to refer and terms of reference published.

12. 16 March 2022

    Reference unless undertakings accepted, including the summary of the Phase 1 decision, published.

13. 19 January 2022

    First published.