Press Release: Mergers: Commission refers Thomas Cook’s acquisition of CGL’s and Midlands’ travel businesses to UK competition authorities

The European Commission has referred, following a request by the United Kingdom's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) under the EU Merger Regulation, the assessment of the proposed acquisition of the travel businesses of Co-operative Group (CGL) and of Midlands Co-operative Society (Midlands) by Thomas Cook to the UK authorities. CGL and Midlands are active in the UK only. After a preliminary investigation, the Commission found that the proposed concentration threatens to give rise to competition concerns in the market for holiday distribution, in particular of package holidays, in the UK. The issue will now be examined by the competent UK competition authorities under national law.