Grafton Group plc (“Grafton”) announced on 1 July 2021 that it had entered into an agreement to divest its Traditional Merchanting Business in Great Britain and that Huws Gray, the purchaser, would be notifying the transaction to the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”).

Grafton notes the announcement today by the CMA that its Phase 1 review concluded that it is or may be the case that the merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom and is therefore considering whether to accept an undertaking in lieu of a Phase 2 reference.

The divestment is expected to close by 28 February 2022 and completion is not conditional on the outcome of the CMA process.