The CMA must determine an appeal within the period of 4 months beginning with the permission date, unless subsection (2) applies.
This subsection applies where—
the CMA has received representations on the timing of the determination from a party to the appeal, and
it is satisfied that there are special reasons why the determination cannot be made within the period specified in subsection (1).
Where subsection (2) applies, the CMA must determine an appeal within the period specified by it, not being longer than the period of 5 months beginning with the permission date.
Where subsection (2) applies, the CMA must also—
inform the parties to the appeal of the time limit for determining the appeal, and
publish that time limit in a way it considers appropriate to bring it to the attention of any other persons likely to be affected by the determination.
References in this section to the permission date are to the date on which the CMA gave permission to bring the appeal in accordance with section 12D(3).
In this section and in section 12I any reference to a party to an appeal is to be read in accordance with Schedule 2ZA.