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UK CMA Accepts CVS’s Offer To Sell The Vet, Ending Probe

By  |  June 28, 2022

The UK Competition & Markets Authority on Monday said it will not progress a probe into CVS’s purchase of Quality Pet Care after the London-listed firm agreed to offload the business in question, in response to competition concerns raised by the CMA.

In August 2021, Norfolk-based veterinary services firm CVS announced its acquisition of Quality Pet Care, which trades as The Vet, for GBP20.4 million. 

However, in September, the CMA opened an investigation into the deal, and in February had judged that the acquisition would reduce competition in Bristol, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Southampton and Warrington. It said it would refer the deal for an in-depth investigation unless CVS offered acceptable remedies for the regulator’s concerns.

In response, CVS offered to divest the entire The Vet business – a solution the CMA on Monday said it had accepted.

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