GovWire

Statutory timetable

Phase 1

CMA to consider undertakings offered

7 September: CapVest Partners LLP, the ultimate controller of Riviera Bidco Limited, offered undertakings to the CMA which involve divesting two dental practices, each either belonging to Rodericks Dental Limited or Dental Partners Group Limited. The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by CapVest Partners LLP, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

23 August 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.

• Summary of phase 1 decision (23.8.22)
• Press release: Dental merger raises competition concerns in Yorkshire and Derbyshire (23.8.22)

Launch of merger inquiry

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

• Commencement notice (28.6.22)

Invitation to comment: closes on 12 July 2022

28 June 2022: The Competition and Markets Authority (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 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

28 April 2022: The CMA has served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in relation to the completed acquisition by Riviera Bidco Limited of Dental Partners Group Limited.

• Initial enforcement order (4.5.22)

Amendments / consents granted

• Derogation 8 September 2022 (12.9.22)
• Derogation 24 August 2022 (1.9.22)
• Variation 4 August 2022 (12.8.22)
• Derogation 27 July 2022 (12.8.22)
• Derogation 13 May 2022 (25.5.22)
• Derogation 13 May 2022 (25.5.22)
• Derogation 22 April 2022 (4.5.22)

Contact

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