David Lloyd Clubs / Virgin Active gyms merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by David Lloyd Clubs Limited of 16 Virgin Active Limited gyms.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
13 June 2017 Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
26 May 2017 Decision published
19 May 2017 Decision announced
21 March 2017 Launch of merger inquiry
17 to 31 March 2017 Invitation to comment

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

13 June 2017: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by David Lloyd Clubs Limited of 16 Virgin Active Limited gyms. A copy of the undertakings and the decision are available below.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: now closed

26 May 2017: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the anticipated acquisition by David Lloyd Clubs Limited of 16 Virgin Active Limited gyms.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

26 May 2017: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by David Lloyd Clubs Limited, 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

19 May 2017: 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.

Launch of merger inquiry

21 March 2017: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

17 March 2017: The Competition and Markets Authority (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 issues to:

Daniella Sinobad
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4AD

daniella.sinobad@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 17 March 2017
Last updated 13 June 2017 + show all updates
  1. Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted.

  2. Full text decision published, CMA to consider undertakings announcement added, decision that undertakings might be accepted published, and undertakings in lieu of reference consultation launched.

  3. Decision announced: reference unless undertakings accepted.

  4. Launch of CMA merger inquiry.

  5. First published.