The Competition and Markets Authority yesterday invited initial comments by interested parties on Pennon Group’s recently completed acquisition of Sutton and East Surrey Water (SES Water).
Following completion of the transaction, Sumisho Osaka Gas Water UK Ltd’s name was changed to Sutton and East Surrey Group Holdings Ltd.
Pennon announced the £380 million deal, which will add over 750,000 customers to the Group's customer base, on 10th January 2024. Pennon will pay £89 million for Sumisho Osaka Gas Water UK Ltd, while also taking on £291 million in debts.
The formal notice published by the CMA yesterday says that tt has sufficient information in relation to the completed acquisition to enable it to begin an investigation for the purposes of deciding whether to make a reference for a Phase 2 investigation. The deadline for the CMA to announce its decision whether to refer the merger for a phase 2 investigation is 7 May 2024
The CMA has not yet launched its formal investigation into this transaction – the invitation to comment is the first part of its information-gathering process.
The competition regulator said it is considering “whether it is or may be the case that a merger of two or more water enterprises has taken place and, if so, whether the creation of that situation is likely to prejudice Ofwat’s ability, in carrying out its functions, to make comparisons between water enterprises.”
The CMA is issuing the preliminary ‘invitation to comment’ to allow interested parties to submit any initial views on the impact that the transaction could have on water regulation in England and Wales.
Deadline for any interested party to submit comments to the CMA is 12 March 2024 - written representations about any competition issues should be sent to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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