Merger Update: Morrisons / McColls

START OF CMA MERGER INVESTIGATION: COMPLETED ACQUISITION BY WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS LTD OF CERTAIN ASSETS OF MCCOLL'S RETAIL GROUP PLC, MARTIN MCCOLL LIMITED, CLARK RETAIL LIMITED, DILLONS STORES LIMITED, SMILE STORES LIMITED, CHARNWAIT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, AND MARTIN RETAIL GROUP LIMITED

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, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the Parties on 13 July 2022 and has a deadline of 8 September 2022 for its phase 1 decision.

Invitation to comment: closes 27 July 2022

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 to:

Jonathan Akinyemi

[email protected]

Darren Gysi

[email protected]   

The full title of the Merger Case: 

COMPLETED ACQUISITION BY WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS LTD OF CERTAIN ASSETS OF MCCOLL'S RETAIL GROUP PLC, MARTIN MCCOLL LIMITED, CLARK RETAIL LIMITED, DILLONS STORES LIMITED, SMILE STORES LIMITED, CHARNWAIT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, AND MARTIN RETAIL GROUP LIMITED

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.