Merger Update: Wolseley/Kooltech

Anticipated acquisition by Wolseley UK Limited of Kooltech Limited - CMA to consider undertakings offered

On 23 December 2023, the CMA 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.

On 30 November 2023, the Parties offered undertakings in lieu of a reference to the CMA, which involve the divestment of Kooltech's branch in Aberdeen. The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by the Parties, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA to remedy the substantial lessening of competition identified by the CMA.

The CMA now has until 06 February 2024 to decide whether to accept the undertakings, with the possibility to extend this timeframe to 04 April 2024 if it considers there are special reasons for doing so.

The text of this decision will be placed on the Competition and Market Authority's web site at Wolseley/Kooltech merger inquiry - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) as soon as is reasonably practical.

In the event of media enquiries please email Press@cma.gov.uk