Vanilla Group / Washstation merger inquiry
The CMA investigated the completed acquisition by Vanilla Group Ltd (JLA) of Washstation Ltd.
Phase 2
Administrative timetable
Date of referral: 16 April 2018
- (13.9.18)
Statutory deadline: 14 October 2018
Contact
Case closure summary
6 June 2019: The purchase of the Washstation Business by Katy Mitchell and Solingen Private Equity was approved by the CMA and completed on 5 June 2019. This brings the merger investigation to a close.
- (6.6.19)
Penalty notice
14 March 2019: The CMA has published a notice (dated 8 March 2019) of a penalty imposed on JLA New Equityco Limited and Vanilla Group Limited under section 94A of the Enterprise Act 2002. The CMA imposed the penalty for a failure to comply, without reasonable excuse, with the requirements imposed on JLA New Equityco Limited and Vanilla Group Limited by the initial enforcement order issued by the CMA under section 72 of the Enterprise Act 2002.
- (14.3.19)
- (14.3.19)
Remedy group appointed
17 December 2018: The CMA appointed the following panel group members to the Washstation remedy group.
Anne Fletcher, Ulrike Hotopp, Sheila McClelland and Stuart McIntosh (Chair).
Final undertakings
13 December 2018: The CMA has accepted final undertakings and the reference has now been fully determined.
- (13.12.18)
- (13.12.18)
Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings
19 November 2018: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments by 5pm on Monday 3 December 2018.
- (19.11.18)
Final report
- (11.10.18)
- (11.10.18)
- (11.10.18)
- Press release: University laundry merger broken up by CMA (11.10.18)
Responses to the Provisional Findings and the Remedies Notice
- (14.9.18)
- (12.9.18)
- (12.9.18)
Response hearing summaries
- (14.9.18)
- (7.9.18)
- (7.9.18)
- (7.9.18)
- (7.9.18)
Provisional findings
10 August 2018: The CMA has provisionally found that the merger between JLA and Washstation may give rise to competition concerns in the supply of managed laundry services to higher education customers in the UK.
- (10.8.18)
- (10.8.18)
- (10.8.18)
- (10.8.18)
- (10.8.18)
- News story: Competition concerns over university laundry merger (10.8.18)
Analysis
Customer survey: CMA commissioned research
- (2.7.18)
Hearing summaries
- (12.7.18)
- (4.7.18)
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- (28.6.18)
- (28.6.18)
- (28.6.18)
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- (28.6.18)
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- (15.6.18)
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Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee and hold separate manager
9 May 2018: On 9 May, the CMA directed JLA New Equityco Limited, pursuant to the Initial Enforcement Order dated 13 December 2017, to appoint a monitoring trustee and hold separate manager.
- (9.5.18)
Responses to the issues statement
- (8.6.18)
Issues statement
9 May 2018: 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.
- (9.5.18)
Response to the phase 1 decision
- (9.5.18)
Notice of extension of inquiry period
- (15.5.18)
- (1.5.18)
Inquiry Group appointed
16 April 2018: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:
Stuart McIntosh (Chair), Anne Fletcher, Ulrike Hotopp and Sheila McClelland.
Terms of reference
16 April 2018: The CMA has referred the completed transaction by JLA New Equityco Ltd through its subsidiary Vanilla Group Ltd of Washstation Ltd for an in-depth investigation.
- (16.4.18)
Phase 1
Reference decision
16 April 2018: The CMA has referred the completed transaction by JLA New Equityco Ltd through its subsidiary Vanilla Group Ltd of Washstation Ltd for an in-depth investigation.
- (27.4.18)
Statutory timetable
| Phase 1 Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 3 April 2018 | Decision announced |
| 5 February to 20 February 2018 | Invitation to comment |
| 5 February 2018 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 13 December 2017 | Initial enforcement order |
Reference unless undertakings accepted
3 April 2018: 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.
- (27.4.18)
- News story: University laundry services merger could reduce competition (3.4.18)
Invitation to comment: closes 20 February 2018
5 Febraury 2018: 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 merger inquiry
5 February 2018: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (5.2.18)
Initial enforcement order
On 13 December 2017 the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on JLA New Equityco Ltd and Vanilla Group Ltd, in relation to the completed acquisition by Vanilla Group Ltd (JLA) of Washstation Ltd.
- (14.12.17)
Amendments/consents granted:
- (5.12.18)
- (26.10.18)
- (16.7.18)
- (2.7.18)
- (15.5.18)
- (15.1.18)
Updates to this page
Published 14 December 2017Last updated 6 June 2019 + show all updates
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Case closure summary published.
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A notice of a penalty imposed on JLA New Equityco Limited and Vanilla Group Limited has been published. The penalty decision has also been published
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Final undertakings and notice to accept final undertakings published.
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Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings published.
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Derogation published.
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Final report published.
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Summary of final report published.
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Response to remedies notice and hearing summary published.
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Administrative timetable updated.
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Responses to the provisional findings and remedies notice published.
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Response hearing summaries published.
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Provisional findings report and appendices and glossary published.
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Summary of provisional findings, notice of provisional findings, notice of possible remedies published.
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Derogation notice published.
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Summary of hearing with UPP Residential Services Limited published.
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Further hearing summaries published.
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Derogation published.
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CMA commissioned research published.
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7 hearing summaries published.
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Hearing summaries published.
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Responses to the issues statement published.
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Full administrative timetable published.
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Notice of termination of extension of investigation published.
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Derogation published.
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Directions to appoint, issues statement and response to the phase 1 decision published.
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Notice of extension of inquiry period added.
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Full text decision, reference decision and administrative timetable published.
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Terms of reference published and inquiry group appointed.
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Reference decision announced.
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Decision announced.
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Launch of CMA merger inquiry and Invitation to comment issued.
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Derogation published.
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First published.