LN-Gaiety Holdings / MCD Productions merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by LN-Gaiety Holdings Limited of MCD Productions Unlimited Company.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
15 May 2019
Last updated
19 December 2019 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Recreation and leisure
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 clearance
Opened:
15 May 2019
Closed:
19 December 2019

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 25.7.19

Statutory deadline: 8.1.20

Final report

Responses to provisional findings

Provisional findings

7 November 2019: The CMA has provisionally found Live Nation-Gaiety’s proposed purchase of MCD does not raise competition concerns.

Response to phase 1 decision

Issues statement

9 August 2019: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions. The deadline for submissions on the issues statement is 10am, Tuesday 27 August 2019.

Inquiry group appointed

25 July 2019: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:

Kip Meek (Chair), Robin Cohen and Anne Fletcher.

Terms of reference

25 July 2019: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by LN-Gaiety Holdings Limited of MCD Productions Unlimited Company for an in-depth investigation.

Phase 1

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
16 August 2019 Decision published
11 July 2019 Decision announced
15 May to 30 May 2019 Invitation to comment
15 May 2019 Launch of merger inquiry

Reference decision

25 July 2019: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by LN-Gaiety Holdings Limited of MCD Productions Unlimited Company for an in-depth investigation.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

11 July 2019: 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 UK. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. Full text of the decision will be available shortly.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

15 May 2019: 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.

Launch of merger inquiry

15 May 2019: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 15 May 2019
Last updated 19 December 2019 + show all updates

  1. Final report, Appendices and glossary, Summary of Final report and Parties’ response to provisional findings published.

  2. Full provisional findings report published.

  3. Summary and notice of Provisional Findings published.

  4. Response to phase 1 decision published.

  5. Issues statement published

  6. Admin timetable for the LN-Gaiety/MCD merger inquiry published.

  7. Merger referred for an in-depth phase 2 investigation. Terms of reference and inquiry group published.

  8. Reference unless undertakings accepted decision announced.

  9. First published.

Contents