Ali Holding S.r.l. / Welbilt, Inc merger inquiry

The CMA is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Ali Holding S.r.l. of Welbilt, Inc.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 10 March 2022
• Last updated: 1 August 2022 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Food manufacturing
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 clearance with undertakings in lieu
• Opened: 10 March 2022

Statutory timetable

Date	Action
11 July 2022	Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
22 June to 7 July 2022	Consultation on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference
13 June 2022	CMA to consider undertakings offered
9 June 2022	Decision announced
24 May 2022	Launch of merger inquiry
10 March 2022 to 24 March 2022	Invitation to comment

Phase 1

Case closure

1 August 2022: The sale of Welbilt’s global ice machines business to Pentair plc was approved by the CMA and completed on 28 July 2022. This brings the merger investigation to a close.

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

11 July 2022: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition of Welbilt, Inc by Ali Holding S.r.l.

• Full text decision (19.7.22)
• Final undertakings (11.7.22)

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation

22 June 2022: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition of Welbilt, Inc by Ali Holding S.r.l.

• Notice of consultation (22.6.22)
• Proposed undertakings (22.6.22)

CMA to consider undertakings offered

13 June 2022: Ali Group and Welbilt offered undertakings to the CMA, which involves divesting the global ice machines business. The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Ali Group and Welbilt or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

• Full text decision (22.6.22)

Reference unless undertakings accepted

9 June 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.

• Full text decision (22.6.22)
• Summary of phase 1 decision (9.6.22)
• Press release: Foodservice equipment merger gives CMA cause for concern (9.6.22)

Launch of merger inquiry

24 May 2022: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the Parties.

• Commencement notice (24.5.22)

Invitation to comment: closed

10 March 2022:The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will 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.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

Georgia Zele: Georgia.Zele@cma.gov.uk

Elle Burford: Elle.Burford@cma.gov.uk

Published 10 March 2022
Last updated 1 August 2022 + show all updates

1. 1 August 2022

   Case closure published.

2. 19 July 2022

   Full text decision published.

3. 11 July 2022

   Undertakings in lieu of reference published.

4. 22 June 2022

   Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation and phase 1 full text decision published.

5. 13 June 2022

   CMA to consider undertakings offered published.

6. 9 June 2022

   Summary of phase 1 decision published.

7. 24 May 2022

   Launch of merger inquiry published.

8. 10 March 2022

   First published.