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.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 4 January 2018
• Last updated: 4 April 2018 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Retail and wholesale
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 2 cancellation
• Opened: 4 January 2018
• Closed: 4 April 2018

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.

• Cancellation of merger reference (4.4.18)

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.

• Terms of reference (6.3.18)

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 decision (9.3.18)
• News story: Country stores merger referred for in-depth investigation (6.3.18)

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.

• Full text decision (9.3.18)
• Press release: Country stores merger could reduce competition (21.2.18)

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.

• Revocation order (9.3.18)

Initial enforcement order

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

• Initial enforcement order (9.3.18)

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.

• Commencement of initial period notice (4.1.18)

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Published 4 January 2018

Last updated 4 April 2018 + show all updates

1. 3 April 2018

   Cancellation of merger reference published.

2. 9 March 2018

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

3. 6 March 2018

   Terms of reference published.

4. 21 February 2018

   Decision announced: reference unless undertakings accepted.

5. 4 January 2018

   First published.