AMC (UK) / Odeon and UCI Cinemas merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the completed acquisition by AMC (UK) Acquisition Limited of Odeon and UCI Cinemas Holdings Limited.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
19 April 2017 Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
17 January 2017 Decision published
8 December 2016 Decision announced
29 November 2016 Initial enforcement order
19 October to 3 November 2016 Invitation to comment
18 October 2016 Launch of merger inquiry

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

19 April 2017: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the completed acquisition by AMC (UK) Acquisition Limited of Odeon and UCI Cinemas Holdings Limited. A copy of the undertakings and the decision are available below.

Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu

21 February 2017: The CMA has extended the consideration of UILs until 20 April 2017.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: Now closed

2 February 2017: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the completed acquisition by AMC (UK) Acquisition Limited of Odeon and UCI Cinemas Holdings Limited.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

22 December 2016: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by AMC, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. A copy of the decision is available below.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

8 December 2016: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that the following merger has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. The full text of the decision is available below.

Initial enforcement order

On 29 November 2016, the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on AMC (UK) Acquisition Limited, Dalian Wanda Group Co. Ltd, and Odeon and UCI Cinemas Holdings Limited in relation to the acquisition by AMC (UK) Acquisition Limited of Odeon and UCI Cinemas Holdings Limited.

Launch of merger inquiry

18 October 2016: The CMA has launched its phase 1 investigation following the European Commission’s decision to refer the case, in part, to the United Kingdom under Article 4(4) of the EC Merger Regulation.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

19 October 2016: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:

MergerSupportTeam@cma.gov.uk

Published 19 October 2016
Last updated 17 May 2017 + show all updates
  1. Undertakings in lieu acceptance decision published.

  2. Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted.

  3. Variation order published

  4. Notice of extension published.

  5. Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation launched.

  6. Decision that undertakings might be accepted added.

  7. Full text of the decision published.

  8. CMA to consider undertakings announcement added.

  9. Decision announced: reference unless undertakings accepted.

  10. Initial enforcement order published.

  11. First published.