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ABF-Hovis bread deal jumps to phase II probe in UK

By Jon Menon ( January 8, 2026, 09:00 GMT | Insight) -- Associated British Foods’ planned acquisition of rival breadmaker Hovis is to undergo an in-depth antitrust review, after the companies asked the UK antitrust regulator to bypass its phase I investigation to save time. The Competition and Markets Authority, which had been undertaking an initial review of the deal, has a deadline of June 24 to complete the phase II probe, it said in a statement on Thursday.Associated British Foods’ planned acquisition of Hovis is to undergo an in-depth antitrust review, after the bread manufacturers asked the UK antitrust regulator to bypass its phase I investigation to save time....

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