--- title: U.K. Begins Phase II Probe of Cengage/McGraw-Hill Merger description: MoginRubin's Timothy LaComb discusses the UK's Phase II investigation following the rejected proposal to cure antitrust problems identified in the Cengage and McGraw-Hill merger. image: https://blog.moginrubin.com/hubfs/MoginRubin%20Blog%20Logo%20Nov-2020%20v1.png --- [![MOGIN LAW LLP](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MoginRubin_October2019%20Theme/Images/MOGIN%20LAW%20LLP%20Large%20JPEG.jpg?width=484&height=625&name=MOGIN%20LAW%20LLP%20Large%20JPEG.jpg "MOGIN LAW LLP")](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hubfs/MoginRubin_October2019%20Theme/Images/MOGIN%20LAW%20LLP%20Large%20JPEG.jpg) - About - [Our Mission](https://moginlawllp.com/about/our-mission/) - [Why MoginRubin?](https://moginlawllp.com/about/why-mogin-law/) - [Our Experience](https://moginlawllp.com/about/our-experience/) - [Attorneys](https://moginlawllp.com/attorney/) - [News & Publications](https://moginrubin.com/news-publications/) - [Firm News](https://moginlawllp.com/category/firm-news/) - [Competition Law News](https://moginlawllp.com/category/competition-law-news/) - [Mogin Law Blog](https://moginlawllp.com/mogin-law-blog/) - [Blog Archive](https://blog.moginrubin.com/) - [Subscribe](https://insights.moginrubin.com/subscribe-to-the-blog) [Merger & Acquisitions](https://blog.moginrubin.com/tag/merger-acquisitions) , [Competition Theory](https://blog.moginrubin.com/tag/competition-theory) , [Legislation & Regulation](https://blog.moginrubin.com/tag/legislation-regulation) , [Antitrust Litigation & Investigations](https://blog.moginrubin.com/tag/antitrust-litigation-investigations) # U.K. Begins Phase II Probe of Cengage/McGraw-Hill Merger Subscribe March 28, 2020, 10:24 AM [MRadmin](https://blog.moginrubin.com/author/mradmin) - - - [On March 10, 2020, the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority gave Cengage and McGraw-Hill an ultimatum](https://moginrubin.com/uk-threatens-phase-ii-review-of-cengage-mcgraw-hill-deal/) – provide remedies that cure the competition problems caused by the merger or face a Phase II inquiry. Then, on March 24, 2020, the CMA rejected the merging parties’ proposed remedies and said it will proceed to a Phase II investigation. The CMA is required to complete the Phase II probe and issue a decision on the proposed merger by Sept. 7, 2020. The CMA joins several other nations that have raised concerns about the merger, including Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. [![](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/College-Textbook-Publishers-Handcuffs-1.png?width=319&height=316&name=College-Textbook-Publishers-Handcuffs-1.png)](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/College-Textbook-Publishers-Handcuffs-1.png)Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission sent the merging parties a statement of issues in December 2019, concluding that the deal could lead to “higher prices, reduced quality or a more limited product range for students in Australia.” New Zealand’s Commerce Commission sent the merging parties a similar statement of issues in February 2020. And, although the Department of Justice has not publicly commented on the deal, [U.S. lawmakers have publicly urged the DOJ to “closely scrutinize” the merger,](https://moginrubin.com/uk-threatens-phase-ii-review-of-cengage-mcgraw-hill-deal/) explaining the merger could “increase the financial burden on American students, jeopardize their privacy, and unduly influence their education.” Put simply, given this large (and growing) number of opponents, there is very little chance the merger closes in its current form. *Edited by Tom Hagy for MoginRubin LLP.* ### About the Authors #### Timothy LaComb Associate [tlacomb@moginrubin.com](mailto:tlacomb@moginrubin.com) Associate Tim LaComb concentrates his practice on antitrust, unfair competition and complex business litigation–particularly related to mergers and acquisitions. He has deep experience and proficiency in electronic and other discovery-related issues. [Learn more about Tim](https://moginrubin.com/attorneys/timothy-z-lacomb/) MoginRubin LLP [619.687.6611](tel:6196876611) [info@moginrubin.com](mailto:info@moginrubin.com) [San Diego Office: One America Plaza, 600 West Broadway, Suite 3300, San Diego, CA 92101](https://goo.gl/maps/czUa4wiPC56W9TDo6) [Washington DC Office: 2101 L Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037](https://goo.gl/maps/s8PtTtczuNykdW5U6) © MoginRubin LLP     [Legal Disclaimers](https://moginrubin.com/legal-disclaimers/)    [Privacy Policy](https://moginrubin.com/privacy-policy/) ``` ``` - - - ![best-law-firms-badge-300x300](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/best-law-firms-badge-300x300.png?width=110&height=110&name=best-law-firms-badge-300x300.png) ![Legal500-207x300](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Legal500-207x300.jpg?width=76&height=110&name=Legal500-207x300.jpg) ![Daily-Journal-Top-Boutiques-2019](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Daily-Journal-Top-Boutiques-2019.png?width=110&height=110&name=Daily-Journal-Top-Boutiques-2019.png) ![2019-LD_Plantiff_Financial-Lawyer1-300x300](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2019-LD_Plantiff_Financial-Lawyer1-300x300.jpg?width=110&height=110&name=2019-LD_Plantiff_Financial-Lawyer1-300x300.jpg) ![Lawyers-of-Distinction-2019](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lawyers-of-Distinction-2019.png?width=100&height=100&name=Lawyers-of-Distinction-2019.png) ![Super-Lawyers-Badge-TRANSPARENT](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Super-Lawyers-Badge-TRANSPARENT.png?width=201&height=70&name=Super-Lawyers-Badge-TRANSPARENT.png) ![2018-IAE-Awards-Winner-logo-1-300x163](https://blog.moginrubin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2018-IAE-Awards-Winner-logo-1-300x163.jpg?width=184&height=100&name=2018-IAE-Awards-Winner-logo-1-300x163.jpg)