This report by the Competition Commission examines the proposed purchase of the Bio-Rad Laboratories microscope business (produced by a UK-based subsidiary which sells products worldwide) by Zeiss (a company, based in Germany, which is part of a group which manufactures optics, electronics and precision engineering products). The Commission finds that, should the proposed merger not proceed, it is unlikely that Bio-Rad would continue as an independent business and would probably be sold to another party. Given this situation, the Commission concludes that the merger is not expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any UK markets.