Portman Healthcare / Dentex Healthcare merger inquiry
The CMA is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Portman Healthcare (Group) Limited of Dentex Healthcare Group Limited.
Statutory timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 20 March 2023 | Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted |
| 2 March 2023 to 16 March 2023 | Consultation on proposed undertakings in lieu of reference |
| 17 February 2023 | CMA to consider undertakings offered |
| 3 February 2023 | Decision announced |
| 16 December 2022 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 9 December 2022 to 23 December 2022 | Invitation to comment |
Phase 1
Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
20 March 2023: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference to a Phase 2 investigation offered by Portman Healthcare (Group) Limited and Dentex Healthcare Group Limited.
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(20.3.23)
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(20.3.23)
Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: closed
2 March 2023: The CMA is consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference to a Phase 2 investigation offered by Portman Healthcare (Group) Limited and Dentex Healthcare Group Limited.
- (2.3.23)
- (2.3.23)
CMA to consider undertakings offered
17 February 2023: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Portman Healthcare (Group) Limited and Dentex Healthcare Group Limited, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.
- (2.3.23)
Reference unless undertakings accepted
3 February 2023: 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.
- (2.3.23)
- (3.2.23)
- Press release: Merger could worsen dental service options for patients in the South West and North East (3.2.23)
Launch of merger inquiry
16 December 2022: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (16.12.22)
Invitation to comment: now closed
9 December 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 2022 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.
Contact
Please send written representations about any competition or public interest issues to Sophie Halls, sophie.halls@cma.gov.uk
Updates to this page
Published 9 December 2022Last updated 5 October 2023 + show all updates
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Case closed.
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Decision to accept undertakings and final undertakings published
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Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation, consideration of undertakings and reference unless undertakings accepted full text decisions published.
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CMA to consider undertakings offered announcement published.
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Summary of decision to refer unless undertakings accepted published.
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Launch of merger inquiry, with commencement notice published.
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First published.