12th Oct 2026 13:00
Consultation on undertakings in lieu: Co-operative Group/Southern Co-operative
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a consultation on undertakings in lieu of reference offered by Co-operative Group Limited (CGL) to address competition concerns identified by the CMA over its completed acquisition of The Southern Co-operative Limited (Southern) (the Merger).
On 15 September 2026, the CMA announced that it would refer the Merger for an in-depth, phase 2 investigation unless the Parties offered acceptable undertakings in lieu to address the CMA's concerns.
To address the CMA's concerns, CGL has offered to divest 15 convenience stores and two funeral homes in areas where the CMA found competition concerns at phase 1.
On 29 September 2026, the CMA announced that it would look in detail at these offered undertakings in lieu. The CMA has until 24 November 2026 to consider whether to accept the undertakings in lieu, or a modified version of them. As part of this process, the CMA is now consulting publicly on whether the proposal is sufficient to address the competition concerns identified by the CMA.
Before reaching a final decision, the CMA is therefore inviting interested parties to make their views known. The deadline for responses is 27 October 2026.
The consultation on the offered undertakings in lieu and all other information relating to this merger investigation can be found on the dedicated case page on the CMA’s website at Co-operative Group / Southern Co-operative merger inquiry - GOV.UK.
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