Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm advising a global client base across Private Capital, Private Wealth, M&A and Disputes.
We are large enough to handle the most complex and demanding mandates yet focused enough to remain agile and responsive. Our size enables us to know each other well, collaborate seamlessly and adapt quickly to our clients’ evolving needs.
Our independence shapes the way we work. We foster genuine partnership, encourage individual responsibility and empower our people to think creatively in pursuit of practical, effective solutions.
Macfarlanes successfully advised Associated British Foods plc on securing unconditional Phase 2 clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority for its acquisition of Hovis Group Limited.
United Kingdom
Macfarlanes has advised long-term client Associated British
Foods plc (ABF) on obtaining Phase 2 clearance from the Competition
and Markets Authority (CMA) for its acquisition of Hovis Group
Limited (Hovis) from Endless LLP.
The acquisition brings together two of the largest pre-sliced
packaged bread manufacturers in the UK: Hovis and ABF’s
Allied Bakeries, which owns the Kingsmill brand.
Following a nine-month investigation during which the case was
‘fast-tracked’ to Phase 2, the CMA accepted that the
criteria for an ‘exiting firm’ counterfactual were met
in relation to Allied Bakeries and cleared the transaction
unconditionally.
The Macfarlanes team was led by Competition Partners Cameron
Firth and Caja Griesenbach, with support from Senior Associates
Matthew Redfern, Balint Egri and Christian Leighton and Associates
Matthew Pimley and Blaise Kingan.
Contributor
Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm advising a global client base across Private Capital, Private Wealth, M&A and Disputes.
We are large enough to handle the most complex and demanding mandates yet focused enough to remain agile and responsive. Our size enables us to know each other well, collaborate seamlessly and adapt quickly to our clients’ evolving needs.
Our independence shapes the way we work. We foster genuine partnership, encourage individual responsibility and empower our people to think creatively in pursuit of practical, effective solutions.
