{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merger-reference-atlas-copco-ab-and-desoutter-brothers-holdings-plc-order-1989/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merger-reference-atlas-copco-ab-and-desoutter-brothers-holdings-plc-order-1989/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1989/1718",
  "legislation_title": "The Merger Reference (Atlas Copco AB and Desoutter Brothers (Holdings) plc) Order 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merger-reference-atlas-copco-ab-and-desoutter-brothers-holdings-plc-order-1989",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "MONOPOLIES AND MERGERS\nMade 20th September 1989\nLaid before Parliament 21st September 1989\nComing into force 21st September 1989\nWhereas–\n(1) the Secretary of State, in the exercise of powers conferred on him by sections 69(2) and 75 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 has today referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for investigation and report the matter of the arrangements which, if carried into effect, would result in the enterprises of Atlas Copco AB (“Atlas”) and Desoutter Brothers (Holdings) plc (“Desoutter”) ceasing to be distinct enterprises; and\n(2) in the opinion of the Secretary of State the doing of the things mentioned in articles 2 and 3(2) of this Order would constitute action which might prejudice the reference or impede the taking of action under the said Act which may be warranted by the Commission’s report on the reference:\nNow, therefore, the Secretary of State, with a view to preventing the doing of the things mentioned in articles 2 and 3(2) of this Order, and in exercise of powers conferred on him by sections 74(1)(a), 75(4) and 90(3) of the said Act, hereby orders as follows:",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "1973 c. 41."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1718/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T15:36:57.668383+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}