VetPartners Limited / Goddard Holdco Limited merger inquiry
The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by Scooby Bidco Limited, trading through its subsidiary VETPartners Limited of Goddard Holdco Limited.
Statutory timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2 September 2022 | Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted |
| 8 August 2022 to 19 August 2022 | Consultation on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference |
| 13 May 2022 | CMA to consider undertakings offered |
| 28 April 2022 | Decision announced |
| 1 March 2022 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 1 March 2022 to 15 March 2022 | Invitation to comment |
| 15 November 2021 | Initial enforcement order |
Phase 1
Case closure
3 October 2022: The sale of the Divestment Sites completed on 30 September 2022. This brings the merger investigation to an end.
Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
2 September 2022: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the completed acquisition by Scooby Bidco Limited, trading through its subsidiary VetPartners Limited, of Goddard Holdco Limited.
- (2.9.22)
- (12.9.22)
Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: now closed
5 August 2022: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference for the completed acquisition by Scooby Bidco Limited, trading through its subsidiary VETPartners Limited of Goddard Holdco Limited.
-
(5.8.22)
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(5.8.22)
Extension of consideration of undertakings in lieu
11 July 2022: The CMA has extended the consideration of undertakings in lieu of reference until 7 September 2022.
- (11.7.22)
CMA to consider undertakings offered
13 May 2022: VetPartners offered undertakings to the CMA, which involve divesting veterinary practises. The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by VetPartners or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.
- (21.6.22)
Reference unless undertakings accepted
28 April 2022: 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 United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.
- (28.4.22)
- Press Notice: VetPartners’ purchase of Goddard raises competition concerns (28.4.22)
- (21.6.22)
Launch of merger inquiry
1 March 2022: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (1.3.22)
Invitation to comment: closed
1 March 2022: 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.
Initial enforcement order
15 November 2021: The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in relation to the completed acquisition by Scooby Bidco Limited, trading through its subsidiary VETPartners Limited of Goddard Holdco Limited.
- (17.11.21)
Amendments / consents granted
- (14.7.22)
- (15.6.22)
- (24.5.22)
- (3.5.22)
- (28.4.22)
- (17.1.22)
- (17.1.22)
- (22.12.21)
- (22.12.21)
- (13.12.21)
- (8.12.21)
Contact
Please send written representations about any competition issues to: general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk
Last updated 3 October 2022 + show all updates
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Case closure statement published.
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Full text of decision to accept undertakings in lieu of reference published.
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Update added following acceptance of undertakings in lieu of reference and final undertakings published.
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Acceptance of proposed undertakings published.
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Derogation published.
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Notice of extension published.
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Full text of the reference unless undertakings accepted and consideration undertakings offered decisions.
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Derogation published.
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Derogation published.
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Announcement on undertakings being considered published.
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Derogation published.
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Summary of Phase 1 decision and new derogation added to the page.
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Derogation letter published.
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Launch of merger inquiry published
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Derogations published.
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Derogations published.
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Derogation letter published.
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Derogation published.
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First published.