Vision Express / Tesco Opticians merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by Vision Express (UK) Limited of Tesco Opticians.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
15 November 2017 Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
20 October 2017 Decision published
28 September 2017 Decision announced
2 August to 16 August 2017 Invitation to comment
2 August 2017 Launch of merger inquiry

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

15 November 2017: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by Vision Express (UK) Limited of Tesco Opticians. A copy of the undertakings and the decision are available below.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: now closed

20 October 2017: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the anticipated acquisition by Vision Express (UK) Limited of Tesco Opticians.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

11 October 2017: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Vision Express, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. The full text of the decision is available below.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

28 September 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.

Invitation to comment: closes 16 August 2017

2 August 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.

Launch of merger inquiry

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

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

mergersupportteam@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 2 August 2017
Last updated 17 November 2017 + show all updates
  1. Undertakings in lieu acceptance decision published.

  2. Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted.

  3. Full text decision and decision that undertakings might be accepted published and consultation launched.

  4. CMA to consider undertakings update added.

  5. Decision announced: Reference unless undertakings accepted.

  6. First published.