The Original Bowling Company / Bowlplex merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by The Original Bowling Company Ltd of Bowlplex Ltd.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
22 June 2015
Last updated
22 December 2015 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Recreation and leisure
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 1 clearance with undertakings in lieu
Opened:
22 June 2015
Closed:
1 December 2015

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
1 December 2015 Undertakings in lieu accepted
26 October 2015 Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu (UILs)
17 August 2015 Decision announced
22 June to 3 July 2015 Invitation to comment
22 June 2015 Launch of merger inquiry

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

1 December 2015: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by The Original Bowling Company Ltd of Bowlplex Ltd. A copy of the undertakings and the decision are available below.

Extension of considerations of undertakings in lieu

26 October 2015: The CMA has extended the consideration of UILs until 22 December 2015.

Undertaking in lieu of reference consultation: Now closed

7 October 2015: We are consulting on a proposed undertaking in lieu (UIL) of a reference for the anticipated acquisition by The Original Bowling Company Ltd of Bowlplex Ltd.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

1 September 2015: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by The Original Bowling Company Ltd, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. A copy of the notice is available below.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

17 August 2015: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision is available below.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

22 June 2015: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted 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 has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

Launch of merger inquiry

22 June 2015: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

Alba Ziso
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4AD

alba.ziso@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Published 22 June 2015
Last updated 22 December 2015 + show all updates

  1. Undertakings in lieu acceptance decision published.

  2. First published.

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