Competition Markets Authority
Phase 2
Administrative timetable
Referral date: 22 March 2024
Statutory deadline: 5 September 2024
- (10.4.24)
Contact
Updated issues statement and Phase 1 Decision
17 July 2024: The CMA has today published further unredacted versions of the Decision on relevant merger situation and substantial lessening of competition full text (Phase 1 Decision) and the issues statement. The additional text is relevant to the CMAs assessment of the counterfactual and is included in Section 4 of the Phase 1 Decision and paragraphs 15 to 18 of the issues statement. We welcome any additional responses from interested third parties on these documents. The deadline for submissions on these documents is 31 July 2024, 5pm.
- (17.7.24)
- (17.7.24)
Response to the issues statement
- (14.6.24)
Issues statement
26 April 2024: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions. The deadline for submissions on the issues statement is 5pm, 10 May 2024.
- (26.4.24)
Inquiry group appointed
3 April 2024: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group.
Terms of reference
22 March 2024: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by T&L Sugars Limited of certain assets of Tereos United Kingdom and Ireland Limited for an in-depth investigation.
- (22.3.24)
Statutory timetable
| Phase 1 | Action |
|---|---|
| 8 March 2024 | Decision announced |
| 12 January 2024 | Launch of merger inquiry |
| 12 January to 26 January 2024 | Invitation to comment |
Phase 1
Reference decision
22 March 2024: The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by T&L Sugars Limited of certain assets of Tereos United Kingdom and Ireland Limited for an in-depth investigation, on the basis that, on the information currently available to it, 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.
- (22.3.24)
Reference unless undertakings accepted
8 March 2024: 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. The transaction will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.
- (24.4.24)
- (11.3.24)
- Press notice: Sugar deal could raise prices for UK shoppers (8.3.24)
Launch of merger inquiry
12 January 2024: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
- (12.1.24)
Invitation to comment: closed
12 January 2024: 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.
Written representations about any competition issues should be provided by the deadline set out above.
Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our privacy notice.