Regus Group / Avanta Serviced Office Group merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the completed acquisition by Regus Group Limited of Avanta Serviced Office Group plc.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
29 January 2016 Undertakings in lieu accepted
29 December 2015 Decision published
18 November 2015 Decision announced
23 September 2015 to 6 October 2015 Invitation to comment
23 September 2015 Launch of merger inquiry
14 May 2015 Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

29 January 2016: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the acquisition by Regus Group Limited of Avanta Serviced Office Group plc. A copy of the undertakings and the decision are available below.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: Now closed

8 December 2015: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the completed acquisition by Regus Group Limited of Avanta Serviced Office Group plc.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

2 December 2015: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Regus, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. A copy of the notice will be published shortly.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

18 November 2015: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted or 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 Regus offers acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision is available below.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

23 September 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 CMA merger inquiry

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

Initial enforcement order

On 14 May 2015, the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Regus Group Limited in relation to the completed acquisition by Regus Group Limited of Avanta Serviced Office Group plc.

Amendments/consents granted:

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

David Little
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4AD

David.Little@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 9 February 2016