Carlsberg UK Holdings Limited / Marston's PLC merger inquiry

The CMA investigated and cleared the proposed joint venture between Carlsberg UK Holdings Limited and Marston’s PLC.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 19 August 2020
• Last updated: 2 November 2020 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Retail and wholesale
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 clearance
• Opened: 18 August 2020
• Closed: 2 November 2020

Statutory timetable

Phase 1	Action
9 October 2020	Decision announced
19 August 2020	Invitation to comment
18 August 2020	Launch of merger inquiry

Phase 1

CMA clearance decision

9 October 2020: The CMA has cleared the proposed joint venture between Carlsberg UK Holdings Limited and Marston’s PLC.

• Full text decision (PDF, 329KB) (2.11.20)
• Summary of full text decision (PDF, 131KB) (9.10.20)
• News story: Deal between Carlsberg and Marston’s given the go-ahead (9.10.20)

Notice of extension of the preliminary assessment period

• Notice of termination of extension (Marston’s) (PDF, 100KB) (21.8.20)
• Notice of extension (Marston’s) (PDF, 101KB) (19.8.20)

Invitation to comment: closes 2 September 2020

19 August 2020: 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.

These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Launch of merger inquiry

18 August 2020: The CMA has launched its phase 1 investigation following the European Commission’s decision to refer the case to the United Kingdom under Article 4(4) of the EC Merger Regulation.

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk.

Published 19 August 2020
Last updated 2 November 2020 + show all updates

1. 2 November 2020

   The full text decision has been published to the case page.

2. 9 October 2020

   Clearance decision announced and summary of the decision published.

3. 21 August 2020

   Notice of termination of extension published.

4. 19 August 2020

   Notice of extension of the preliminary assessment period published.

5. 19 August 2020

   First published.