The UK’s Office of Fair Trading has given the go ahead for Lion Capital, the private-equity owner of Young’s Seafood, to acquire Cumbrian Seafood and Border Laird.

Cumbrian Seafood and Border Laird were sold to Lion Capital after the group went into administration last December. 

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Lion, which separately owns Grimsby-headquartered Young’s Seafood, acquired the business, customer contracts and equipment.

The inquiry by the watchdog examined if the deal qualified as a “relevant merger situation” and whether there was a realistic chance the merger will substantially lessen competition. The OFT concluded that this was not the case. 

Lion Capital was not available for comment.  

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