英国CMA批准ABF收购面包商Hovis
SOURCE / GOV.UK-CMA Updates · CMA clears ABF’s deal to buy bread maker Hovis
原文
CMA clears ABF’s deal to buy bread maker Hovis
完整原文
<div class="govspeak"><p>The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) independent inquiry group has today published its final report following an in‑depth phase 2 investigation into the anticipated merger of Associated British Foods plc (ABF) and Hovis Group Limited.</p> <p>ABF, which owns the Kingsmill brand, supplies bread and other bakery products across the UK. ABF’s UK bakery business, Allied Bakeries (AB), and Hovis are also significant suppliers of own‑brand bakery products to major supermarkets.</p> <p>Since the start of the investigation, the inquiry group has heard that bread suppliers in the UK have faced longstanding challenges, including declining demand and significant increases in costs.</p> <p>Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that AB and Hovis have each faced financial challenges – with AB making significant losses over the last 14 years, despite exploring a range of options to improve performance, due to the overall decline in demand for bread, the increase in demand for lower-margin private-label products and significant increases in costs, such as energy, wheat and distribution.</p> <p>Having carefully considered the evidence and engaged in 2 public consultations, the inquiry group has found that if the merger did not go ahead, the most likely outcome would be that AB would exit the market entirely in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This means the competitive pressure from AB would be lost, with or without the merger, and therefore the inquiry group has found that the merger does not raise competition concerns.</p> <p>Cyrus Mehta, Chair of the independent inquiry group leading the investigation, said:</p> <blockquote> <p>Bread is a basic staple for millions of people, which is why it is important we looked carefully at this deal and assessed the competition implications for households across the UK.</p> <p class="last-child">On the basis of the wide range of evidence we received, which showed the difficult position many UK-based bakeries are in, we found Allied Bakeries – owned by ABF – would likely leave the market entirely if the deal did not proceed. Taking that into account, we have concluded the deal does not raise competition concerns.</p> </blockquote> <p>More information is available on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/abf-slash-hovis-merger-inquiry">ABF / Hovis merger inquiry case page</a>.</p> <h2 id="notes-to-editors">Notes to editors</h2> <ol> <li>Publication of the final report marks the end of the CMA’s investigation. <div class="content-block content-block--contact" data-content-block="" data-document-type="contact" data-content-id="2d39a869-aa5f-4594-a317-52e1a8d7d4b4" data-embed-code="{{embed:content_block_contact:contact-the-cma-press-office}}"><div class="vcard"> <div data-diff-key="description" data-id="description"> <p>For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office.</p> </div> <dl class="govuk-!-margin-0 govuk-!-padding-0"> <div data-diff-key="email_addresses-email" data-block-type="email_addresses" data-block-id="email"> <dt class="govuk-!-margin-top-0 govuk-!-margin-right-0 govuk-!-margin-bottom-4 govuk-!-margin-left-0 govuk-!-padding-0 govuk-!-font-size-19 govuk-!-font-weight-bold"> Email </dt> <dd class="govuk-!-margin-top-0 govuk-!-margin-right-0 govuk-!-margin-bottom-6 govuk-!-margin-left-0"> <ul class="govuk-list list-no-bullets govuk-!-margin-top-0 govuk-!-margin-right-0 govuk-!-margin-bottom-6 govuk-!-margin-left-0"> <li> <a href="mailto:press@cma.gov.uk" class="email"> press@cma.gov.uk </a> </li> </ul> </dd> </div> <div data-diff-key="telephones-telephone" data-block-type="telephones" data-block-id="telephone"> <dt class="govuk-!-margin-top-0 govuk-!-margin-right-0 govuk-!-margin-bottom-4 govuk-!-margin-left-0 govuk-!-padding-0 govuk-!-font-size-19 govuk-!-font-weight-bold"> Telephone numbers </dt> <dd class="govuk-!-margin-top-0 govuk-!-margin-right-0 govuk-!-margin-bottom-6 govuk-!-margin-left-0"> <ul class="govuk-list list-no-bullets govuk-!-margin-0"> <li class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-1"> <span>Phone: </span> <span class="tel">020 3738 6460 </span> </li> <li class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-1"> <span>Out of hours: </span> <span class="tel">020 3738 6878</span> </li> </ul> <h3 id="opening-hours">Opening hours</h3> <p>Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. On <a href="https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays">bank holidays</a>, use our out of hours number.</p> <p> <a href="https://gov.uk/call-charges"> Find out about call charges </a> </p> </dd> </div> </dl> </div> </div></li> </ol> </div>
归纳
英国竞争与市场管理局（CMA）已批准ABF收购面包制造商Hovis的交易。CMA经过调查认为该收购不会显著影响市场竞争，因此予以放行。ABF是一家国际食品和配料公司，Hovis是英国知名面包品牌。此次收购将扩大ABF在烘焙领域的市场份额。
点评
CMA基于市场界定和竞争影响分析，认定收购不会显著削弱竞争，体现了反垄断审查中效率抗辩的适用。
法律视角点评
AI 生成 · 人工审核核心关切
CMA基于市场界定和竞争影响分析，认定收购不会显著削弱竞争，体现了反垄断审查中效率抗辩的适用。
实务启示
中国法律人应关注反垄断申报中市场界定方法及竞争影响评估的实质标准，避免仅依赖份额门槛。