The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has revealed that it has authorised ABP’s buy of Scotbeef websites.
ABP introduced in June 2023 that it had purchased a Scotbeef meat facility and an abattoir owned by Scotbeef, prompting CMA to analyze the deal in August.
CMA mentioned in its official enforcement order in July: “The CMA has cheap grounds for suspecting that it’s or stands out as the case that preparations are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into impact, will lead to Anglo Beef Processors UK (ABP UK) and Scotbeef Restricted’s (Scotbeef) enterprise finishing up the slaughter, processing, packing, storage and sale of cattle and lamb merchandise… ceasing to be distinct.”
Within the clearance choice, printed 14th December, CMA mentioned: “It’s clear that the Merged Entity faces competitors from a variety of rivals. Due to this fact, the CMA discovered that the Merger doesn’t give rise to a practical prospect of an SLC on account of horizontal unilateral results in relation to the availability of recent beef within the UK.
The Scotbeef websites will merge with ABP UK to work as one enterprise entity.