Eventim Challenges LN-TM Merger

German ticket giant CTS Eventim is challenging the UK Competition Commission’s approval of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger, arguing that arguing that the antitrust authority didn’t give a fair hearing to its objections.

The CC originally provisionally turned down the merger because it would impede the German company’s entry into the UK market, but later reversed that decision on the grounds that the merger would “make little difference to the prospects of Eventim’s success in the UK.”

Eventim is claiming the commission denied it the right to a fair hearing, thereby depriving it of a reasonable opportunity to respond intelligently to the main reasons for the commission reversing its view.

“The commission erred in its assessment of the effect of the merger on the market,” the Bremen-based company complained in a note to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster released a joint statement saying the appeal is without merit and that they are confident the appeal tribunal will uphold the commission’s ruling.

“The Competition Commission has definitively decided that the transaction does not raise issues that would harm competition,” the statement said.

Under UK antitrust law, the Competition Appeal Tribunal can review and reopen decisions by the Competition Commission.
Appeals that fail there can still be argued further in the Court of Appeal.