OREANDA-NEWS. August 27, 2015. The merger was referred for an in-depth phase 2 investigation on 28 July 2015.

The inquiry group of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) panel members must decide whether the acquisition has created a relevant merger situation and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services. The inquiry group must report by 11 January 2016.

Linergy Limited (Linergy) and Ulster Farm By-Products Limited (UFBP) process animal by-products and fallen stock through rendering plants located in Northern Ireland. Linergy and UFBP are also suppliers of the outputs of the rendering process, tallow and meat and bone meal. Customers include slaughter houses, deboning plants, other food processors, retailers such as butchers and purchasers of outputs from the rendering process.

The issues statement identifies clearly for all interested parties the key questions which the inquiry is examining. The issues statement does not imply that the inquiry group has yet identified any competition concerns. The full issues statement is available on the inquiry case page along with all other published information relating to the inquiry.

Anyone wishing to respond to the issues statement should do so in writing, by no later than 5pm on 9 September 2015. Please email linergy.ulsterfarm@cma.gsi.gov.uk