Roche Holdings, Inc / Spark Therapeutics, Inc merger inquiry

The CMA investigated and cleared the anticipated acquisition by Roche Holdings, Inc. of Spark Therapeutics, Inc.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 11 June 2019
• Last updated: 10 February 2020 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Pharmaceuticals
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 clearance
• Opened: 10 June 2019
• Closed: 16 December 2019

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 Date	Action
16 December 2019	Decision announced
21 October 2019	Launch of merger inquiry
25 September to 11 October 2019	Invitation to comment
6 June 2019	Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

CMA clearance decision

16 December 2019: The CMA has cleared the anticipated acquisition by Roche Holdings, Inc. of Spark Therapeutics, Inc.

• Full text decision (10.2.20)
• News story: Pharmaceutical merger cleared by CMA (16.12.19)

Launch of merger inquiry

21 October 2019: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

• Commencement notice (22.10.19)

Invitation to comment: now closed

25 September 2019: 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.

Initial enforcement order

On 6 June 2019, the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Roche Holding AG, Roche Holdings, Inc. and Roche Holding (UK) Limited in relation to the anticipated acquisition by Roche Holdings, Inc. of Spark Therapeutics, Inc.

• Initial enforcement order (11.6.19)

Contact

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

general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Published 11 June 2019
Last updated 10 February 2020 + show all updates

1. 10 February 2020

   Full text decision published.

2. 16 December 2019

   Clearance decision announced.

3. 22 October 2019

   Launch of merger inquiry and commencement notice published.

4. 25 September 2019

   Invitation to comment published.

5. 11 June 2019

   First published.