Rentokil Initial plc / MPCL Limited (formerly Mitie Pest Control Limited) merger inquiry

The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by Rentokil Initial plc of MPCL Limited (formerly Mitie Pest Control Limited).

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
12 October 2018
Last updated
11 October 2019 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Chemicals
Opened:
12 October 2018
Closed:
11 October 2019

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 Date Action
21 May 2019 Decision published
12 April 2019 Decision announced
18 February 2019 to 4 March 2019 Invitation to comment
15 February 2019 Launch of merger inquiry
9 October 2018 Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee

On 23 August 2019, the CMA directed Rentokil Initial, pursuant to paragraph 11 of the Undertakings in Lieu of Reference accepted by the CMA from Rentokil Initial on 22 August 2019, to appoint a monitoring trustee.

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

22 August 2019: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the completed acquisition by Rentokil Initial plc of MPCL Limited (formerly Mitie Pest Control Limited).

Penalty notice

14 August 2019: The CMA has published a notice (dated 7 August 2019) of a penalty imposed on Rentokil Initial plc under section 110 of the Enterprise Act 2002. The CMA imposed the penalty for a failure to comply, without reasonable excuse, with the requirements imposed on Rentokil Initial plc by notices issued by the CMA under section 109 of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation:

11 July 2019: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the completed acquisition by Rentokil Initial plc of MPCL Limited (formerly Mitie Pest Control Limited).

Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu

26 June 2019: The CMA has extended the consideration of UILs until 22 August 2019.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

30 April 2019: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Rentokil, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

12 April 2019: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted or 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 a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.

Invitation to comment: closed

18 February 2019: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted 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 has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party. These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Launch of merger inquiry

15 February 2019: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee

20 December 2018: On 18 December, the CMA directed Rentokil Initial, pursuant to the Initial Enforcement Order dated 9 October 2018, to appoint a monitoring trustee.

Initial enforcement order

On 9 October 2018, the CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Rentokil Initial plc, in relation to the completed acquisition by Rentokil Initial plc of MPCL Limited (formerly known as Mitie Pest Control Limited).

Amendments/consents granted:

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:

mergersupportteam@cma.gov.uk

Published 12 October 2018
Last updated 11 October 2019 + show all updates

  1. Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee.

  2. Published: decision on acceptance of undertakings in lieu of reference

  3. Final undertakings published.

  4. Penalty notice to Rentokil published.

  5. Published: undertakings in lieu of reference consultation.

  6. Notice of extension of consideration of undertakings published.

  7. 3 further derogations published.

  8. Full text of the 'reference unless undertakings accepted' announcement published.

  9. Additional derogation published.

  10. CMA to consider undertakings offered

  11. The page has been updated with our phase 1 decision.

  12. Commencement of initial period notice published and Invitation to comment issued.

  13. Derogation, variation order and directions to appoint a monitoring trustee published.

  14. Derogation published.

  15. Derogation published.

  16. First published.

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