Schlumberger / ChampionX merger inquiry
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-28)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated the anticipated acquisition by Schlumberger Limited of ChampionX Corporation.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

15 July 2025: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by Schlumberger Limited of ChampionX Corporation.
- Full text decision (PDF, 312KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68761ce855c4bd0544dcae49/_Full_text_decision_.pdf) (15.7.25)
- Final undertakings (PDF, 509KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68761d0188da2e5804bb69fd/_Final_undertakings_.pdf) (15.7.25)
- Appointment of monitoring trustee (PDF, 120KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68872cb71e72aed40611af5b/Appointment_of_monitoring_trustee__.pdf) (28.7.25)
Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation

20 June 2025: The CMA is consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference to a phase 2 investigation for the anticipated acquisition by Schlumberger Limited of ChampionX Corporation. The consultation period closes on 4 July 2025.
- Notice of consultation (PDF, 206KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68553a1db328f1ba50f3ce41/Notice_of_consultation.pdf) (20.6.25)
- Proposed undertakings (PDF, 457KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68553a3276eec44bf9d71d77/Proposed_undertakings.pdf) (20.6.25)
Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu

10 June 2025: The CMA has extended the consideration of undertakings in lieu of reference until 8 August 2025.
- Notice of extension (PDF, 118KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/684801f1ddc1cbd280bcb85b/Notice_to_extend_undertakings_in_lieu_of_reference_period.pdf) (10.6.25)
CMA to consider undertakings offered

10 April 2025: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Schlumberger Limited and ChampionX Corporation or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.
- Decision that undertakings might be accepted (PDF, 201KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/681399d97e56aaab3b525450/Decision_that_undertakings_might_be_accepted_.pdf) (2.5.25)
- Press release: CMA receives proposals which may address competition concerns in oil services deal (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-receives-proposals-which-may-address-competition-concerns-in-oil-services-deal) (10.4.25)
Reference unless undertakings accepted

27 March 2025: The CMA has decided, on the evidence 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 an in-depth, phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer an acceptable undertaking to address these competition concerns.
- Full text decision (PDF, 808KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/681399c070b095d0d7011872/Full_text_decision__.pdf) (2.5.25)
- Summary of phase 1 decision (PDF, 154KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e521b633afcd62e4ca4c2e/Summary_of_phase_1_decision.pdf) (27.3.25)
Launch of merger inquiry

29 January 2025: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- Commencement notice (PDF, 89KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6799eca7636f8db3c27071b8/Commencement_notice.pdf) (29.1.25)
Invitation to comment: closed

26 November 2024: The 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.

The CMA is issuing this preliminary ‘invitation to comment’ to allow interested parties to submit to the CMA any initial views on the impact that the transaction could have on competition in the UK. The CMA has not yet launched its formal investigation into this transaction. This invitation to comment is the first part of the CMA’s information-gathering process.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.
- Invitation to comment (PDF, 123KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6744991fa91ce6ead8e93008/Invitation_to_comment.pdf) (26.11.24)
Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

Marta Freire, xx-xxxx-xxxx, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Jeremy Chan, xx-xxxx-xxxx, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Privacy notice

Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about/personal-information-charter).