BCLP advises Constellation Automotive on CMA Phase 2 Clearance for Aston Barclay Acquisition

International Law firm BCLP’s Competition team were privileged to advise Constellation Automotive Group and its end-to-end vehicle remarketing subsidiary, BCA, in securing unconditional Phase 2 clearance from the UK Competition and Markets Authority for the completed acquisition of its competitor, Aston Barclay Vehicle Remarketing.   

Partner Andrew Hockley commented: “We are proud to support the fantastic team at Constellation and BCA in delivering this outcome. We appreciated, in particular, the robust and detailed engagement of the CMA’s Inquiry Group with the complex exiting-firm counterfactual in play throughout the Aston Barclay sales process.”

Our merger control team was led by Partners Andrew Hockley and Christine Graham (London), working with Counsel Paul Culliford and Senior Associate Thomas Wright (Brussels). We had important contributions from our London Partners Ben Lee (Corporate Finance), Marc Trottier (Restructuring and Insolvency) and Akhil Markanday (Real Estate Disputes). 

Expert economic input was provided by BRG. Alison Berridge at Monckton Chambers provided valuable input on novel procedural aspects associated with the “hold-separate” arrangements in place throughout the CMA’s review.