Sabre / Farelogix merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by Sabre Holdings Corporation of Farelogix Inc.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
12 June 2019
Last updated
21 May 2021 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Distribution and service industries
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 prohibition
Opened:
11 June 2019
Closed:
21 March 2021

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 2.9.19

Statutory deadline: 12.4.20

Contact

general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Competition Appeal Tribunal judgment

21 May 2021: The Competition Appeal Tribunal has dismissed Sabre’s challenge of the CMA’s decision to block the merger.

Final Order

19 June 2020: The CMA gives notice of the making of ‘The Sabre and Farelogix Merger Inquiry Order 2020’. On the making of this Order the reference is finally determined.

Notice of intention to make an order

12 May 2020: The CMA gives notice of the intention to make an order.

Final report

Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies

Provisional Findings

7 February 2020: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the anticipated acquisition by Sabre of Farelogix.

Hearing summaries

Notice of extension of statutory period

Responses to the Issues statement

Revocation of initial enforcement order

13 November 2019: In view of the statutory restrictions under section 78 of the Enterprise Act 2002, the CMA has revoked the initial enforcement order.

Issues statement

17 October 2019: The issues statement sets out the scope of the investigation. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.

Initial submissions

Inquiry group appointed

2 September 2019: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group.

Martin Coleman (Group Chair), Colleen Keck, Robin Foster and Richard Feasey

Disclosure of interests

Terms of reference

2 September 2019: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Sabre Holdings Corporation of Farelogix Inc. for an in-depth investigation.

Phase 1

Statutory timetable

Date Action
16 August 2019 Decision announced
12 August 2019 Initial enforcement order
21 June 2019 to 5 July 2019 Invitation to comment
21 June 2019 Launch of merger inquiry

Penalty notice

11 October 2019: The CMA has published a notice (dated 27 September 2019) of a penalty notice imposed on Sabre Corporation under section 110 of the Enterprise Act 2002. The CMA imposed the penalty for a failure to comply, without reasonable excuse, with the requirements imposed on Sabre Corporation by a notice issued by the CMA under section 109 of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Reference decision

2 September 2019: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Sabre Holdings Corporation of Farelogix Inc. for an in depth investigation.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

16 August 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 United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.

Initial enforcement order

On 12 August 2019, the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Sabre Corporation, Sabre GLBL Inc, Sabre Global Technologies Limited, Sabre UK Marketing Limited, and Sabre EMEA Marketing Limited in relation to the anticipated acquisition by Sabre Corporation. of Farelogix Inc.

Invitation to comment: closes 5 July 2019

21 June 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.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.

These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Launch of merger inquiry

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

Updates to this page

Published 12 June 2019
Last updated 21 May 2021 + show all updates

  1. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has dismissed Sabre’s challenge of the CMA’s decision to block the merger. The link to the judgment has been added to the page.

  2. Notice of making an order, order and final order explanatory note published.

  3. Notice of intention to make an order, draft order and draft explanatory note published.

  4. Final report published.

  5. Responses to provisional findings published.

  6. Parties' response to notice of possible remedies and comments from a third party published.

  7. Provisional findings report, appendices and glossary published.

  8. Summary of provisional findings and hearing summaries published.

  9. Administrative timetable updated and notice of extension, responses to issues statement and initial submission published.

  10. IEO revocation order published.

  11. Issues statement and initial phase 2 submission published.

  12. Penalty notice published.

  13. The full text of the phase 1 decision and the decision to refer have been added to the case page.

  14. Terms of reference, inquiry group, and disclosure of interests published.

  15. Initial enforcement order published.

  16. Launch of merger inquiry and invitation to comment published.

  17. First published.

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