Musical instruments and equipment: CMA investigates suspected anti-competitive agreements

Case timetable

Date	Action
Winter 2019 (estimate)	Decision on whether to issue a statement of objections.
March 2019 to winter 2019 (estimate)	Further investigation including information gathering. CMA analysis and review.
March 2019	Decision taken to proceed with the investigation.
April 2018 to March 2019	Initial investigation: information gathering, including issue of formal or informal information requests to parties. CMA analysis and review of information gathered. State of play meetings with parties under investigation.
April 2018	Investigation opened

Case information

On 17 April 2018, the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter I of the CA98 and Article 101 of the TFEU into suspected breaches of competition law by various parties. The investigations relate to alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices in relation to musical instruments and equipment.

This investigation is at an early stage and no assumptions should be made that competition law has been infringed. The CMA has not reached a view on whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any of the parties under investigation. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections. Further detail of the CMA’s procedures in Antitrust cases is available in our guidance.

As a result, it would not be appropriate at present to include any further estimates of the timing of any later investigative steps at this stage.

Contacts

Assistant Director, Antitrust

Simon Deeble (020 3738 6668, simon.deeble@cma.gov.uk)

Project Director

Simon Nichols (020 3738 6368, simon.nichols@cma.gov.uk)

Senior Responsible Officer

Ann Pope (020 3738 6786, ann.pope@cma.gov.uk)