Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Commission definition

What does Commission mean? In legal practice, a commission is a payment, usually percentage‑based, made to an agent, broker or introducer for securing business or facilitating a transaction. Under UK bribery law, the Bribery Act 2010 (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) does not define commission, but criminalises offering, promising, giving, requesting or receiving a financial or other advantage to induce or reward improper performance. A commission may constitute such an advantage depending on intent, knowledge and context; not every commission is a bribe. Transparent, proportionate, contractual commissions for genuine services are generally lawful, whereas concealed or disproportionate payments, particularly to public...

Ryanair/Aer Lingus: UK merger control of a minority shareholding—Competition Commission orders divestment to 5% for material influence; appeals dismissed

Published by a LexisNexis Competition expert

Practice notes

This archived hub captures the position as at the decision dated 5 November 2013 and is no longer updated. See also: timeline, commentary and related cases.

Case facts

Outline UK merger inquiry into the completed purchase by Ryanair of a minority stake in Aer Lingus. On 5 November 2013, the Competition Commission required Ryanair to cut its interest in Aer Lingus to 5%.

Latest developments

The OFT opened its probe into Ryanair’s Acquisition of the minority holding in October 2010—the inquiry could not begin sooner because Ryanair’s initial attempt to buy the whole company, blocked by the European Commission in 2007, was before the European courts. Ryanair challenged the OFT’s decision to investigate at the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal—each challenge failed. The OFT sent the minority stake to the CC in June 2012; Ryanair again contested the CC’s decision to examine the matter at the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal—those appeals were dismissed and the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal. The CC resumed its investigation in March 2013. No further updates are provided on this archived case...

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Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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