The Competition and Markets Authority has warned that McCormick’s proposed acquisition of most of Unilever’s foods business may substantially lessen competition in one or more UK markets.
The phase-one decision keeps the transaction under active review and triggers the statutory choice between remedies and a deeper inquiry. The authority said it will refer the deal to phase two unless the companies propose an acceptable undertaking addressing its concerns.
The CMA has not yet published its full reasons. Its case page records that the inquiry was formally launched on 16 September after an earlier invitation for market comments. Until the detailed decision appears, the affected product market and the evidence behind the preliminary concern remain undisclosed.
The decision is therefore neither a clearance nor a final finding that competition will be harmed. It is the authority’s threshold conclusion, on the evidence currently available, that the transaction is or may be expected to produce a substantial lessening of competition.
