Cineworld / City Screen merger inquiry

The Competition Commission investigated the completed acquisition by Cineworld Group plc (Cineworld) of City Screen Limited (City Screen).

Administrative timetable

Phase 2 date Action
14 October 2013 Statutory deadline
8 October 2013 Publish final report
21 August 2013 Publish provisional findings, publish notice of possible remedies (if required)
19 July Deadline for all parties’ submissions before provisional findings
July 2013 Main party hearings
May to June 2013 Publish statement of issues
May 2013 Gathering information through document requests, questionnaires, third party hearings and a site visit
30 April 2013 Merger reference made

Phase 2

Case closed

16 February 2015: Cineworld has sold its Cambridge cinema to The Light, a purchaser approved by the CMA. This now completes the divestments required by the Competition Commission.

CMA news story: CMA welcomes Cambridge cinema sale (16.2.15)

Notice of acceptance of further undertakings varying final undertakings

22 October 2014: The CMA has accepted a variation to the final undertakings given by Cineworld and City Screen to remedy the SLC found in its final report.

Notice of intention to vary undertakings

30 September 2014: The CMA is consulting on a variation to the final undertakings given by Cineworld and City Screen to remedy the SLC found in its final report.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

Undertakings

Evidence

Letters from the general public

CC-commissioned research and surveys

Responses to provisional findings report and Notice of possible remedies

Summaries of hearings held with third parties

Initial submissions

Announcements

News releases

Core documents

Phase 1

Decisions

30 April 2013 - Reference

Affected market: Motion picture projection

SIC code: 92.13

Initial undertakings Press release (30 April 2013)

Cineworld / City Screens

Cineworld / City Screens Initial undertakings

Name of acquirer: Cineworld Group plc

Description of merger: Completed acquisition by Cineworld Group plc of City Screens Limited

Date original undertakings accepted: 24/12/2012

Companies giving undertakings: Cineworld Group plc and City Screens Limited

Nature of undertakings: hold separate undertakings

SIC code: 92.13

Details of undertakings: Download the undertakings (pdf 48kb)

Amendments/consents: None to date

Affected market: Motion picture projection

No. ME/5877/12

Referred

Read the full text of the decision (pdf 495kb).

Published 16 February 2015