News - Wales
OFT clears PHS purchase
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has cleared Caerphilly-based PHS Group's acquisition of Direct Hygiene.
PHS bought Direct Hygiene, a washroom services company with more than 7,500 customer sites in the UK, in October 2011.
The inquiry looked at whether the deal qualified as a "relevant merger situation" under the Enterprise Act 2002; and whether there was a "realistic chance" the merger will "substantially lessen competition".
The OFT can look at a merger before the close of the deal or up to four months after the deal has been completed.
The watchdog had also previously cleared PHS's acquisition of Capital Hygiene Services and Albany Facilities, both based in Essex, England, following an acquisition spree by PHS last year.