Thermo Fisher Scientific / Roper Technologies merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc of the electron microscope peripherals business of Roper Technologies Inc (the Gatan business)

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
24 October 2018
Last updated
10 June 2019 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Electronics
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 cancellation
Opened:
24 October 2018
Closed:
10 June 2019

Phase 2

Merger reference cancelled

10 June 2019: The CMA has cancelled its merger inquiry into Thermo Fisher’s anticipated acquisition of the electron microscope peripherals business of Roper Technologies (Gatan)

Response to the remedies notice

Provisional Findings

24 April 2019: The CMA has decided to extend the deadline for responses to the Notice of possible remedies to 8am GMT on Tuesday 7 May.

17 April 2019: The CMA has provisionally found extensive competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the proposed acquisition by Thermo Fisher of the Gatan business of Roper.

Initial submissions

Issues statement

31 January 2019: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions. The deadline for submissions on the issues statement is 10am, Tuesday 19 February 2019.

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 7.1.19

Statutory deadline: 23.6.19

Inquiry group appointed

7 January 2019: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:

Martin Coleman (Chair), Humphrey Battcock, Robin Cohen and Anne Fletcher.

Terms of reference

7 January 2019: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc of the electron microscope peripherals business of Roper Technologies Inc (the Gatan business) for an in-depth investigation.

Phase 1

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
19 December 2018 Decision announced
24 October to 7 November 2018 Invitation to comment
24 October 2018 Launch of merger inquiry

Reference decision

7 January 2019: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc of the electron microscope peripherals business of Roper Technologies Inc (the Gatan business) for an in-depth investigation:

Reference unless undertakings accepted

19 December 2018: 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.

Invitation to comment: now closed

24 October 2018: 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.

Launch of merger inquiry

24 October 2018: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Contact

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

Updates to this page

Published 24 October 2018
Last updated 10 June 2019 + show all updates

  1. The CMA has cancelled its merger inquiry into Thermo Fisher’s anticipated acquisition of the electron microscope peripherals business of Roper Technologies (Gatan).

  2. Response to remedies notice published.

  3. Update: Extension to the deadline for responses to the Notice of possible remedies.

  4. The summary of provisional findings, notice of provisional findings and notice of possible remedies have been published.

  5. Issues statement and initial submission from Thermo Fisher and Roper published.

  6. The decision to refer to phase 2 has been announced and added to the case page.

  7. First published.

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