Mole Valley Farmers / Countrywide Farmers merger inquiry

The CMA is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Mole Valley Farmers Limited of the retail business of Countrywide Farmers Plc.

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Phase 2 date Action
4 April 2018 Merger reference cancelled
6 March 2018 Merger reference made

Merger reference cancelled

4 April 2018: The merger reference has been cancelled, as the merger arrangements in question have been abandoned.

Terms of reference

6 March 2018: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Mole Valley Farmers Limited of the retail business of Countrywide Farmers Plc for an in-depth phase 2 investigation.

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
21 February 2018 Decision announced
4 January 2018 to 17 January 2018 Invitation to comment
4 January 2018 Launch of merger inquiry

Phase 1

Reference decision

Reference unless undertakings accepted

21 February 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 UK. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.

Revocation of initial enforcement order

19 February 2018: In view of the evidence available to the CMA at this stage, the CMA has revoked the initial enforcement order.

Initial enforcement order

5 February 2018: The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Invitation to comment: Now closed

4 January 2018: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, would 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.

Launch of merger inquiry

4 January 2018: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 4 January 2018
Last updated 4 April 2018 + show all updates
  1. Cancellation of merger reference published.

  2. Initial enforcement order, revocation order, full text decision and decision to refer published.

  3. Terms of reference published.

  4. Decision announced: reference unless undertakings accepted.

  5. First published.