LB Group / Venator UK (TiO2 assets) merger inquiry
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the anticipated acquisition by LB Group Co., Ltd of titanium dioxide (TiO2) business-related assets of Venator Materials UK Limited (in administration).
Statutory timetable
| Phase 1 | Action |
|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Deadline for phase 1 decision (*) |
| 16 March 2026 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 20 January 2026 to 3 February 2026 | Invitation to comment |
(*) Whilst the CMA will seek to determine its investigation as quickly as possible, the statutory deadline can be extended in certain limited circumstances.
Phase 1
Launch of merger inquiry
16 March 2026: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (16.3.26)
Invitation to comment: now closed
20 January 2026: The CMA is issuing this ‘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.
As part of the transaction, LB Group Co., Ltd will acquire Venator Materials UK Limited‘s (in administration) titanium dioxide (TiO2) manufacturing site at Greatham, UK and related assets used in the production and supply of TiO2.
Pre-notification
The CMA has received the necessary information from the parties to commence pre-notification.
Contact
Please send written representations about any competition issues to:
- lbgroup.venator@cma.gov.uk
- Principal Case Officer: Neha Zamvar, neha.zamvar@cma.gov.uk
- Case Officer: Robbie Leahy, robbie.leahy@cma.gov.uk
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.
Updates to this page
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Commencement notice published.
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First published.