The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared the proposed merger between Associated British Foods’ (ABF) bakery business and Hovis across the whole of the UK, following additional analysis conducted as part of its Phase 2 investigation.

The CMA has provisionally cleared ABF's acquisition of Hovis in Great Britain while identifying competition concerns in Northern Ireland's bread and bakery market.

On the 6 November well-known bakery business and brand, Hovis, announced its acquisition by UK-based private equity firm Endless LLP for...