Lindab / HAS-Vent merger inquiry
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-03)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated the completed acquisition by Lindab International AB of HAS-Vent Holdings Limited.

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Referral date: 3 May 2024

Statutory deadline: 17 October 2024
- Administrative timetable (PDF, 122KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6645c10abd01f5ed32793cb7/Administrative_timetable__.pdf) (16.5.24)
Contact

xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Case closure summary

3 July 2025: On 1 July 2025, Lindab International AB and HAS-Vent Holdings Limited completed the sale of the Divestment Sites to Ventilation Warehouse Group Limited. This brings the merger investigation to a close.
- Case closure summary (PDF, 112KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68663f6a18fa24320d28946c/Case_closure_summary.pdf) (3.7.25)
Remedy Group appointed

24 December 2024: The CMA has appointed the Remedy Group. Kirstin Baker (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/inquiry-chairs-biographies#kirstin-baker) (Chair), Robin Foster (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#robin-foster) and Jeremy Newman (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#jeremy-newman).

Final undertakings

23 December 2024: The CMA has accepted final undertakings and the reference has now been fully determined.
- Notice to accept final undertakings (PDF, 143KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67694681be7b2c675de309c5/Notice_of_acceptance_of_final_undertakings.pdf) (23.12.24)
- Final undertakings (PDF, 380KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676946afff2c870561bdea01/Final_Undertakings.pdf) (23.12.24)
- Appointment of monitoring trustee (PDF, 118KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683dbe68d23a62e5d32680df/Lindab_HAS-Vent_appointment_of_monitoring_trustee.pdf) (3.6.25)
Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings

27 November 2024: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments on the proposed draft undertakings by 5pm on Wednesday 11 December 2024.
- Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings (PDF, 137KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6746fa5877462f7809147492/Notice_of_proposal_to_accept_final_undertakings.pdf) (27.11.24)
- Draft final undertakings (PDF, 458KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6746fbefa72d7eb7f348bfeb/Draft_final_undertakings.pdf) (27.11.24)
Final report

15 October 2024: The CMA has published its final report.
- Final report (PDF, 1.1MB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670f990c92bb81fcdbe7b925/Final_report_2.pdf) (15.10.24)
- Appendices and glossary (PDF, 3.4MB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670f98ea080bdf716392f44f/Appendices_and_glossary_2.pdf) (15.10.24)
- Summary of final report (PDF, 134 KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670f992a30536cb92748324c/Summary_of_final_report_2.pdf) (15.10.24)
- Press notice: Lindab required to sell sites in Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent after ventilation merger investigation (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lindab-required-to-sell-sites-in-nottingham-and-stoke-on-trent-after-ventilation-merger-investigation) (15.10.24)
Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies
- Parties’ response to the notice of possible remedies (PDF, 326KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e83536f8082e9740881b75/____Parties__response_to_the_notice_of_possible_remedies_______.pdf) (17.9.24)
- Parties’ response to the provisional findings (PDF, 821KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66f57205c71e42688b65ed26/__Parties__response_to_the_provisional_findings__.pdf) (27.9.24)
Provisional findings

22 August 2024: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the completed acquisition by Lindab International AB of HAS-Vent Holdings Limited.

The deadline for submitting responses to the notice of possible remedies is Thursday 5 September 2024. The deadline for submitting responses to the provisional findings is Thursday 12 September 2024.
- Notice of provisional findings (PDF, 122KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66c68398cbe60889bddd27fc/Notice_of_provisional_findings.pdf) (22.8.24)
- Summary of provisional findings (PDF, 122KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66c683adcbe60889bddd27fd/Summary_of_provisional_findings.pdf) (22.8.24)
- Provisional findings report (PDF, 811KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66c86f621f215d9f0a913544/Provisional_findings_report.pdf) (23.8.24)
- Appendices and glossary (PDF, 3.4MB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670e0db3080bdf716392f330/Appendices_and_glossary.pdf) (23.8.24)
- Notice of possible remedies (PDF, 196KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66c68381e5e471d6d6b18e50/Notice_of_possible_remedies.pdf) (22.8.24)
- Press notice: Deal could result in higher costs for ventilation systems, CMA provisionally finds (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deal-could-result-in-higher-costs-for-ventilation-systems-cma-provisionally-finds) (22.8.24)
Response to the issues statement
- Parties’ joint response (PDF, 282KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/667d133eaec8650b100900ac/Parties__joint_response.pdf) (27.6.24)
Issues statement

28 May 2024: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions. The deadline for submissions on the issues statement is 5pm, 11 June 2024.
- Issues statement (PDF, 201KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6655c00c7b792ffff71a8453/Issues_Statement.pdf) (28.5.24)
Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee

28 May 2024: On 15 May 2024, pursuant to an initial enforcement order dated 10 November 2023, the CMA directed Lindab Limited, Lindab International AB and HAS-Vent Holdings Limited to appoint a monitoring trustee.
- Directions to appoint a monitoring trustee (PDF, 127KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6655b76f16cf36f4d63ebafa/Directions_to_appoint_a_monitoring_trustee.pdf) (28.5.24)
Inquiry group appointed

3 May 2024: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:

Kirstin Baker (Chair) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/inquiry-chairs-biographies#kirstin-baker), Robin Foster (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#robin-foster) and Jeremy Newman (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#jeremy-newman).

Terms of reference

3 May 2024: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by Lindab International AB of HAS-Vent Holdings Limited for an in-depth investigation.
- Terms of reference (PDF, 103KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66348aa31834d96a0aa6d04d/__Terms_of_reference__.pdf) (3.5.24)
Phase 1

Statutory timetable

Reference decision

3 May 2024: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by Lindab International AB of HAS-Vent Holdings Limited for an in-depth investigation, on the basis that, on the information currently available to it, it is or may be the case that this Merger has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom.
- Decision to refer (PDF, 106KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66348a8274933dccbbb6c1c0/__Decision_to_refer__.pdf) (3.5.24)
Reference unless undertakings accepted

26 April 2024: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.
- Full text decision (PDF, 462KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6655b79b16cf36f4d63ebafb/Full_text_decision.pdf) (28.5.24)
- Summary of phase 1 decision (PDF, 137KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662b3d5b6963baceeb225247/__Summary_of_phase_1_decision__.pdf) (26.4.24)
- Press release: Ventilation deal could increase construction prices (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ventilation-deal-could-increase-construction-prices) (26.4.24)
Launch of merger inquiry

28 February 2024: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the Parties.
- Commencement notice (PDF, 91KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65ddfa57b8da63001dc862d4/Commencement_notice_-_Lindab.pdf) (28.2.24)
Invitation to comment: closed

28 February 2024: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the merger from any interested party.

These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Initial enforcement order

10 November 2023: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 in relation to the completed acquisition by Lindab International AB of HAS-Vent Holdings Limited.
- Initial enforcement order (PDF, 173KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/654e57626a650f000dbf4818/Initial_enforcement_order.pdf) (13.11.23)
Amendments / consents granted
- Derogation 8 May 2025 (PDF, 117KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6841a18cfa0289a17a3e87a3/Derogation_8_May_2025.pdf) (6.6.25)
- Derogation 1 May 2025 (PDF, 118KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68419dab41cb2525c1211ce8/Derogation_1_May_2025.pdf) (6.6.25)
- Derogation 8 April 2025 (PDF, 117KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68419dd6578282a4b102c09b/Derogation_8_April_2025.pdf) (6.6.25)
- Derogation 13 March 2025 (PDF, 125KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6841a1a4fa0289a17a3e87a4/Derogation_13_March_2025.pdf) (6.6.25)
- Derogation 4 March 2025 (PDF, 117KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68419dc2280ec7236902c0a2/Derogation_4_March_2025.pdf) (6.6.25)
- Derogation 29 January 2025 (PDF, 135KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6841a1bffa0289a17a3e87a5/Derogation_29_January_2025.pdf) (6.6.25)
- Derogation 29 January 2025 (PDF, 135KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6841a1bffa0289a17a3e87a5/Derogation_29_January_2025.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 29 January 2025 (PDF, 123KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c04869a0f0c95a498d203f/Derogation_29_January_2025__.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 18 December 2024 (PDF, 156KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c048bc72e83aab48866b92/Derogation_18_December_2024.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 17 December 2024 (PDF, 167KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c048d268a61757838d203e/Derogation_17_December_2024.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 10 December 2024 (PDF, 133KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c0497168a61757838d203f/Derogation_10_December_2024__.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 18 November 2024 (PDF, 130KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c0499b72e83aab48866b95/Derogation_18_November_2024_.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 8 November 2024 (PDF, 118KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c049b2a0f0c95a498d2041/Derogation_8_November_2024.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 26 September 2024 (PDF, 140KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c049fe68a61757838d2041/Derogation_26_September_2024_.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 8 July 2024 (PDF, 126KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c04a69750837d7604dbc38/Derogation_8_July_2024.pdf) (28.2.25)
- Derogation 13 June 2024 (PDF, 137KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a9f42c0808eaf43b50da2a/Derogation_13_June_2024.pdf) (31.7.24)
- Derogation 29 May 2024 (PDF, 94KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6662bc8846bf5772be4c1ba9/Derogation_29_May_2024.pdf) (7.6.24)
- Derogation 5 January 2024 (PDF, 101KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a4f83869fbd3001325c09f/Derogation_5_January_2024.pdf) (16.1.24)
- Derogation 13 December 2023 (PDF, 117KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65829c51ed3c3400133bfc08/Derogation_13_December_2023.pdf) (21.12.23)
- Derogation 6 December 2023 (PDF, 94KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a4f81d69fbd3000d25c0a3/Derogation_6_December_2023.pdf) (16.1.24)
- Derogation 27 November 2023 (PDF, 136KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65672370d6ad75000d02fc8f/Derogation_27_November_2023_pdfa.pdf) (1.12.23)
Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy Notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about/personal-information-charter).