Shropshire Star

Bid for Telford galvanising firm facing probe

The competition watchdog has flagged up concerns over the £10.5 million takeover of Telford galvanising firm W Corbett & Co by Black Country rival Joseph Ash, part of the Hill & Smith Holdings group.

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Joseph Ash has until Wednesday to satisfy the concerns of the Competition and Markets Authority or face a potentially lengthy inquiry.

Parent company Hill & Smith said it was "carefully considering" the CMA's announcement and would issue its own further announcement "in due course".

Galvanising is the process of protecting steel from corrosion with a zinc coating.

The CMA said it had received concerns from customers that the deal would lessen competition and lead to higher prices.

Andrea Coscelli, from the CMA, said: "We are concerned to preserve the existing level of competition in the West Midlands region where Joseph Ash and W Corbett currently compete."

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