U.K. Regulator Partially Clears Pennon's Acquisition of Bristol Water
U.K. Regulator Partially Clears Pennon's Acquisition of Bristol Water
By Ian Walker
伊恩·沃克(Ian Walker)著
The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said Friday that it won't refer Pennon Group PLC's acquisition of Bristol Water Holdings UK Ltd. for a further review under the Enterprise Act 2002.
英國競爭和市場管理局週五表示，不會根據2002年“企業法”對Pennon Group PLC收購布裏斯托爾水務控股英國有限公司(Bristol Water Holdings UK Ltd.)一事進行進一步審查。
However, the regulator said that it is still considering whether to refer the deal for a phase 2 investigation under the Water Industry Act 1991.
然而，監管機構表示，它仍在考慮是否根據1991年水業法(Water Industry Act)將這筆交易提交第二階段調查。
The CMA said last month that it was investigating the deal to see if it will affect the U.K. water regulator's ability to make comparisons within the industry.
CMA上個月説，它正在調查這筆交易，看看它是否會影響英國水務監管機構在行業內進行比較的能力。
The regulator said at the time that it was considering whether the merger of two or more water enterprises has taken place and, if so, whether this will prejudice Ofwat's ability to make comparisons between water enterprises. The CMA has a deadline of Dec. 22 for its phase 1 decision.
該監管機構當時表示，正在考慮是否發生了兩家或更多水務企業的合併，如果是，這是否會損害Ofwat對水務企業進行比較的能力。CMA的第一階段決定的最後期限是12月22日。
The regulator launched its investigation under the Enterprise Act in September as it believed the deal could lead to a lessening of competition. It said Friday that based on information currently available it won't refer the merger for a further review.
監管機構在9月份根據《企業法》(Enterprise Act)啟動了調查，因為它認為這筆交易可能會導致競爭減弱。該公司上週五表示，根據目前掌握的信息，它不會將合併提交進一步審查。
Pennon disclosed the deal for Bristol Water in June, purchasing the company for an equity value of 425 million pounds ($583.8 million) and an enterprise value of GBP814 million, including assumed debt.
Pennon在6月份披露了Bristol Water的交易，以4.25億英鎊(5.838億美元)的股權價值和8.14億英鎊的企業價值(包括承擔的債務)收購了該公司。
Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com
寫信給Ian Walker：ian.walker@wsj.com