Merger Update : Admiral / Hampden

CMA to look at Admiral undertakings offer in detail

Admiral Taverns / Hampden Pub Estate Merger Inquiry

On 27 October 2021, the CMA announced that it is or may be the case that the above Merger has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom.

On 3 November 2021, Admiral Taverns offered undertakings to the CMA. Admiral Taverns has offered to divest seven pubs to address the CMA's competition concerns in seven local areas. The CMA has considered the undertakings offered and today announced that it considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertaking offered, or a modified version of it, might be accepted by the CMA to remedy the substantial lessening of competition identified by the CMA.

The CMA has until 10 January 2022 to consider whether to accept the undertakings, or a modified version of them, with the possibility to extend this timeframe to 7 March 2022 if it considers there are special reasons for doing so.

The text of this decision will be available on the CMA's case page as soon as is reasonably practical: Admiral Taverns / Hampden Pub Estate merger inquiry - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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