The British Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed its initial findings that the French environmental group Veolia must divest the entire UK waste management business it acquired from its competitor Suez to prevent a substantial lessening of competition on the British market. In its final report on Veolia's take-over of Suez published on 25 August, the CMA said it will require Veolia to unwind the merger in the UK. Veolia will also have to divest its European mobile water services business and Suez's UK industrial water operation and maintenance services business. The CMA said it "will need to approve the purchasers of each business before the completion of each sale".
"Local authority budgets are already under strain, and this deal is likely to lead to them paying more and receiving a lower-quality service. The negative impact would have ultimately fallen on taxpayers at a time when they are feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis," commented Stuart McIntosh, the chair of the CMA inquiry group. "We will now work with Veolia to ensure that appropriate buyers are found so that businesses, councils – and ultimately taxpayers – will not lose out."...
