The UK’s competition watchdog has raised concerns about a potential merger between Turkish company Arçelik and the European business of US group Whirlpool. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has threatened to launch an in-depth investigation into the merger, as it believes it could lead to a substantial lessening of competition. The CMA is worried that the combination of Arçelik, which owns popular brands Beko and Grundig, and Whirlpool, which owns Hotpoint and Indesit, could result in higher prices, reduced choice, or a decline in product quality for customers. The regulator opened an initial probe in August after Arçelik announced its majority stake acquisition of Whirlpool’s European operations in January. With the merged company becoming the UK’s largest supplier of home appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, worth over £3.8bn annually, the CMA is urging Arçelik to address its concerns by October 5th to avoid a deeper investigation.
The potential merger between Arçelik and the European business of Whirlpool is facing hurdles as the CMA investigates its potential impact on competition in the UK. The regulator is concerned that the combination of the companies, which are already two of Europe’s largest home appliance makers, could have negative consequences for customers. The CMA fears that if the merger goes ahead, it could result in higher prices, limited choice, or a decrease in the quality of products available in the market. Having identified the potential implications, the CMA launched an initial investigation in August after Arçelik’s announcement of its majority stake acquisition in Whirlpool’s European operations earlier in the year. As the merged entity would dominate the UK’s market for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, with an estimated annual worth of £3.8bn, the CMA has set a deadline of October 5th for Arçelik to address its concerns and avoid a more extensive investigation.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has expressed its reservations about the proposed merger between Turkish company Arçelik and Whirlpool’s European business. The CMA has cautioned that the merger could result in a significant reduction in competition, thereby harming consumers. It has outlined its concerns about possible negative outcomes, including potential price increases, limited options for customers, and a potential decline in product quality. In response to Arçelik’s acquisition of a majority stake in Whirlpool’s European operations, the CMA initiated an initial investigation earlier this year and is now considering a deeper probe. Given that the merged company would become the leading supplier of household appliances in the UK, commanding a market worth more than £3.8bn annually, the CMA has set a deadline of October 5th for Arçelik to address the concerns raised. Failure to do so may result in an extensive investigation.