Breedon Aggregates / Aggregate Industries UK merger inquiry

The Competition Commission investigated the completed acquisition by Breedon Aggregates Limited of certain assets of Aggregate Industries UK Limited.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 26 February 2015

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Building and construction
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 2 clearance with remedies
• Opened: 24 September 2013
• Closed: 25 February 2015

Administrative timetable

• Published on 6 February 2014, as required by Rule 6 of the Competition Commission Rules of Procedure. Any revisions made to the timetable will be published on this website.

Phase 2	Actions
5 May 2014	Extended statutory deadline
Early April 2014	Publish final report
March 2014	Final deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions
February 2014	Consider possible remedies and response hearing(s) (if required)
Early February 2014	Notifying provisional findings and possible remedies (if required)
16 December 2013	Deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions required before provisional findings
December 2013	Main party hearings, verify information, consider provisional findings
Late October 2013	Publish statement of issues
October 2013	Gather information, issue questionnaires, third party hearings
24 September 2013	Merger reference made

Date of referral: 24.9.13 Statutory deadline: 5.5.14

Contact

Email: general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Phase 2

Case closed

26 February 2015: Breedon has sold its Tom’s Forest asphalt plant to Lafarge Tarmac, a purchaser approved by the CMA. This now completes the divestments required by the CMA.

• CMA news story: CMA welcomes Breedon sale (26.2.15)

Undertakings

CMA accepts final undertakings given by Breedon to remedy the SLC as outlined in its final report published on 9 April 2014.

• Acceptance of final undertakings (PDF, 456 Kb) (27.6.14)
• Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings (PDF, 404 Kb) (4.6.14)
• Directions to appoint a Monitoring Trustee (PDF, 119 Kb) (31.10.13)
• Notice of adoption of initial undertakings (PDF, 551 Kb) (26.9.13)

Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings

4 June 2014: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and invites written representations on them from any person or persons who wish to comment.

Final report

Published 9.4.14.

• Final report (PDF 2MB) (9.4.14)
• Appendices and glossary (PDF 3MB) (9.4.14)
• Press release CMA confirms Breedon sales

Evidence

CC-commissioned research and surveys

• DJS Customer survey Report (PDF, 1.7 Mb) (10.1.14)
• DJS Customer survey Presentation (PDF, 1.7 Mb) (10.1.14)

Responses to provisional findings report and notice of possible remedies

• Response to provisional findings 19.3.14
• Response to remedies notice 19.3.14

Summaries of hearings held with third parties

• Aberdeen City Council (PDF, 38 Kb) (29.11.13)
• Balfour Beatty Utilities Solutions (PDF, 35 Kb) (10.12.13)
• Company A (PDF, 49 Kb) (10.12.13)
• Leiths (PDF, 57 Kb) (10.12.13)
• RJ McLeod (PDF, 39 Kb) (29.11.13)
• Transport Scotland (PDF, 38 Kb) (10.12.13)

Responses to issues statement

• Breedon (PDF, 260 Kb) (29.11.13)

Initial submissions

• Breedon (PDF, 535 Kb) (29.11.13)

News releases

• CC to investigate construction materials merger (24.9.13)
• Construction materials merger issues statement (22.10.13)
• Breedon may face site sales in three areas (6.2.14)

Core documents

• Terms of reference (PDF, 33 Kb) (24.9.13)
• Inquiry Group: Simon Polito (Chairman of the Group), Robin Aaronson, Lesley Ainsworth, Graham Sharp
• Administrative timetable (PDF, 28 Kb) (6.2.14) 
• Issues statement (PDF, 57 Kb) (22.10.13)
• Notice of possible remedies (PDF, 59 Kb) (6.2.14)
• Notice of provisional findings (PDF, 31 Kb) (6.2.14) 
• Summary of provisional findings report (PDF, 53 Kb) (6.2.14)
• Notice of extension (PDF, 28 Kb) (6.2.14)  
• Provisional findings report (PDF, 1.9 Mb) and Appendices and Glossary (PDF, 1.7 Mb) (7.2.14)
• Notice of addendum to provisional findings (PDF, 31 Kb) (13.2.14)

Phase 1

Breedon Aggregates / Aggregate Industries

Completed acquisition by Breedon Aggregates Limited of certain assets of Aggregate Industries UK Limited

Affected market: Aggregates, asphalt, ready-mix concrete (RMX), contract surfacing

Case reference number: ME/6082/13

Download the Phase 1 full text decision (pdf 421kb)

Decisions: 24 September 2013 - Reference

Links: Press release (24 September 2013)

Published 26 February 2015