GovWire

Statutory timetable

Phase 1

CMA to consider undertakings offered

20 March 2023: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Eville & Jones (Group) Limited or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.

• Full text decision (PDF, 108 KB) (6.4.23)

Reference unless undertakings accepted

6 March 2023: The CMA has decided, on the evidence 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 an in-depth, Phase 2 investigation unless Eville & Jones (Group) Limited offers an acceptable undertaking to address these competition concerns.

• Full text of phase 1 decision (PDF, 649 KB) (6.4.23)
• Summary of phase 1 decision (PDF, 151 KB) (6.3.23)
• Press release: Merger could mean costlier and lower quality inspections for food industry

Launch of merger inquiry

9 January 2023: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

• Commencement notice (9.1.23)

Invitation to comment: closed

15 December 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, 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.

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.

Initial enforcement order

2 November 2022: The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Eville & Jones (Group) Ltd (including Eville & Jones Holdings Limited) and Vorenta Ltd (including its different businesses such as HallMark Veterinary and Compliance Services, Meat and Livestock Commercial Services, and Probita Solutions).

• Initial enforcement order (PDF, 186KB) (4.11.22)

Directions to appoint a hold separate manager

21 November 2022: On 16 November 2022, pursuant to an initial enforcement order dated 2 November 2022, the CMA directed Eville & Jones (Group) Limited and Vorenta Ltd to appoint a hold separate manager.

• Directions to appoint a hold separate manager (PDF, 150KB) (22.11.22)

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition issues to:

Carolina Ricciardi

Carolina.Ricciardi@cma.gov.uk

and

Darren Gysi

Darren.Gysi@cma.gov.uk