Epwin Latium merger referred to Competition Commission
26th June 2012

The Office for Fair Trading has referred the merger of Latium Holdings and The Epwin Group to the Competition Commission for investigation amid concerns it could lead to price hikes. As previously reported in The Glazine, the businesses merged in January in a deal that created a £275m-turnover enterprise with 2,500 staff.

The OFT said in February it would look at the deal to see if it would result in a substantial lessening of competition in the roofing products sector. Now the OFT has decided to refer the deal for further investigation by the Commission.
OFT senior director Ali Nikpay said: “We are concerned that the merger will reduce the competitive options for roofers, builders and independent stockists and could lead to price increases.

“We therefore believe that our duty to refer the merger to the Competition Commission has been triggered in this case.”

The Commission is expected to report back by December 2.