Decision comes as CMA鈥檚 chair reportedly forced to step down
The UK鈥檚 competition watchdog has closed its probe into suspicious activity in the supply of chemicals for use in the construction industry.
The Competition and Markets Authority鈥檚 (CMA) inquiry had potential anti-competitive conduct relating to the supply of chemical admixtures and additives for use in concrete, cement, mortars and related construction products.
But the body said yesterday it has closed its investigation, explaining that it 鈥渘o longer constitutes an administrative priority鈥�.
It stressed that the decision 鈥渄oes not amount to a statement or finding as to whether the parties to the investigation have infringed competition law, nor should any inference be made to that effect鈥�.
It also emphasised that the decision did not prevent the CMA from opening up an investigation in the future 鈥渋f its priorities change or if it receives new evidence which changes its prioritisation assessment鈥�.
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The CMA launched the investigation in October 2023 and last April won a High Court case to support its right to search a domestic property as part of the investigation.
No parties were ever named in the investigation.
The watchdog鈥檚 decision to abandon the probe came alongside reports that it plans to cut staff numbers by 10% following a 鈥渂udgeting error鈥� and that its chair, Marcus Bokkerink, was being pushed out by the government.
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