The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared last year’s acquisition of turkey processor Bernard Matthews by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the CEO of the UK’s 2 Sisters Food Group.
The CMA said last October it was launching an investigation after the investment vehicle, known as Boparan Private Office, acquired Bernard Matthews on 20 September after it was put into administration by former owner private-equity firm Rutland Partners.
However, the CMA confirmed yesterday (12 January) that it had investigated and cleared the deal “by enterprises conducted by Ranjit Boparan and Baljinder Boparan [Mr Boparan’s wife]”. The CMA said it would release the full text of its decision shortly.
An initial enforcement order issued by the CMA, which prohibited moves to integrate Bernard Matthews with businesses of the “acquiring entities” while the investigation was under way without the CMA’s approval, was lifted on 15 December “in view of the evidence available” at that stage, the CMS confirmed yesterday.
Former Bernard Matthews owner Rutland Partners said last June that it was considering selling Europe’s largest turkey producer.
In July, Bernard Matthews said it had exchanged contracts to sell its German subsidiary, Bernard Matthews Oldenburg, to Germany’s Sprehe Gruppe.
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