Showmen’s Guild: suspected anti-competitive practices

The CMA has accepted commitments from the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain that address the CMA’s competition concerns.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
15 December 2015
Last updated
12 July 2018 — See all updates
Case type:
CA98 and civil cartels
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Recreation and leisure
Outcome:
CA98 - commitments
Opened:
15 December 2015
Closed:
26 October 2017

Case timetable

Date Action
26 October 2017 CMA commitments decision published and case closure
4 October to 25 October 2017 Consideration of representations received in response to the consultation on commitments
3 October 2017 Consultation on commitments proposed by the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain closed
22 August to 3 October 2017 Consultation on commitments proposed by the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain open
June to August 2017 Discussions with the party on proposals for commitments
March to May 2017 Receipt of written and oral representations on the statement of objections
December 2016 Statement of objections issued
June to December 2016 Further investigation and analysis, including further information requests
June 2016 Decision to proceed with the investigation
December 2015 to June 2016 Initial investigation: information gathering, including issuance of formal and informal information requests and the party’s responses. CMA analysis and review of the party’s responses to information requests. State of play meetings with the party under investigation
December 2015 Investigation opened

Rules of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain 2018

The rules of the Showmen’s Guild, as amended following the CMA’s Commitments Decision dated 26 October 2017, are published and can currently be found on the Guild’s website.

The rules are also available on the Yorkshire section of the Showmen’s Guild website, and the Derby, Notts & South Lincs section of the Showmen’s Guild website.

Please contact the Showmen’s Guild for further information about the rules and their application by telephone on 01784 461805 or by email at centraloffice@showmensguild.co.uk

Decision to accept binding commitments

26 October 2017: The CMA has published its decision to accept binding commitments from the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain to change certain of its rules in order to address the competition concerns identified by the CMA in the course of its investigation.

Formal acceptance of commitments by the CMA has resulted in the termination of the investigation, with no decision made as to whether or not the Competition Act 1998 has been infringed.

Consultation on commitments

22 August 2017: The CMA has published a notice of intention to accept the commitments offered by the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain and invited representations from interested third parties on that proposed course of action.

Statement of objections

21 December 2016: The CMA issued a statement of objections alleging that the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain has breached UK competition law through certain of its current rules.

Notes

  • The investigation was under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 (CA98).
  • No conclusion has been reached by the CMA as to whether there has been an infringement of competition law.
  • Further detail of the CMA’s procedures in Competition Act 1998 cases is available here: CMA’s procedures in Competition Act cases.

Contacts

Project manager

George Brenton (020 3738 6327, george.brenton@cma.gsi.gov.uk)

Project director

Simon Nichols (0203 738 6368, simon.nichols@cma.gsi.gov.uk)

Senior responsible officer

Ann Pope (0203 738 6786, ann.pope@cma.gsi.gov.uk)

Published 15 December 2015
Last updated 12 July 2018 + show all updates

  1. Link to rules of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain 2018 published.

  2. CMA commitments decision published.

  3. Consultation on commitments launched.

  4. Timetable updated.

  5. Statement of objections issued.

  6. Timetable updated.

  7. First published.

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