UK competition watchdog provisionally clears Boparan-ForFarmers deal (updated)

ForFarmers NV

18/02/2025 07:56

(Adds details on CMA decision in paragraphs 2 and 5, company
context in paragraphs 3 and 4)
       Feb 18 (Reuters) - UK's competition regulator said on
Tuesday it has provisionally cleared British food maker Boparan
Holdings' proposed deal to buy Dutch agricultural feed company
ForFarmers'  FFARM.AS  Burston and Radstock feed mill sites.
    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its inquiry
group, after an in-depth Phase 2 probe, did not believe that the
deal would lead to a "substantial lessening of competition".
    Boparan - which also owns 2 Sisters Food Group, a supplier
of ready-to-eat meals, frozen poultry to the likes of Aldi,
Asda, M&S and Tesco - had previously abandoned a joint venture
plan with ForFarmers before deciding to purchase the two feed
mills.
    2Agriculture, the unit through which Boparan is buying the
mills, supplies poultry across Scotland, East Anglia and North
Wales.
    The CMA is inviting any feedback from relevant parties by
March 11, with a final decision due by May 13.
    


 (Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by
Mrigank Dhaniwala)
 ((abyjose.koilparambil@thomsonreuters.com))