This comes after the two major housebuilders have agreed the terms for a £2.5bn merger last month.
The CMA is considering whether the transaction will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether this may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services.
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The authority is issuing a preliminary “invitation to comment” to allow interested parties to submit to the CMA any initial views on the impact that the transaction could have on competition in the UK.
This is the first part of the CMA’s information-gathering process, in advance of its formal investigation starting — the date for the merger inquiry has yet to be confirmed.
This follows the news that a series of housebuilders are under investigations by the CMA over suspicion of exchanging competitively sensitive information.
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