The UK’s competition regulators are sensationally set to approve Tesco’s £3.7bn takeover of Booker, without imposing conditions such as a sell off hundreds of its stores.

Here’s how The Grocer reported the key milestones of this landmark mega-merger: 

CMA Tesco Booker Merger stores

 

January 

27 Jan - Tesco and Booker to merge in £3.7bn deal

27 JanTesco and Booker’s £3.7bn merger: what the analysts say

27 Jan - Tesco and Booker confident of merger approval but CMA may have other ideas

27 JanCharles Wilson: star signing of Tesco-Booker transfer window

31 JanGovernment rejects petitions asking it to block Tesco-Booker

Tesco Booker

Dave Lewis and Charles Wilson

 

February

02 Feb - The Tesco-Booker merger: all you need to know

02 Feb - CMA must block Tesco-Booker merger

03 FebHow will the CMA view the Booker-Tesco deal?

10 Feb - CMA scrutiny of Tesco-Booker deal to focus on 246-400 stores

15 FebA bright side to the Tesco-Booker merger

17 Feb - The Big 30 wholesalers 2017: Tesco & co set their sights on the wholesale sector

 

March 

21 Mar - Tesco-Booker clouds the air for Palmer & Harvey and the tobacco giants

28 Mar - Media Bites 28 March: Tesco investors warn against Booker deal

30 Mar - ‘Abandon Tesco-Booker deal’ plea falls on deaf ears

31 Mar - City News: Booker shares fall as Tesco shareholders protest merger

 

April 

13 AprDave Lewis still has work to do to sell the Booker deal

28 AprBooker retailers undecided on merits of Tesco merger

28 Apr - As we wait for CMA to fill the news vacuum, Tesco and Booker can provide clarity

 

May

18 MayCity snapshot: Booker profits up 15% ahead of Tesco buyout

26 May - Dysfunctional delay at CMA

30 MayTesco-Booker merger investigation opened by CMA

tesco booker

 

June 

01 JunTesco and Booker cultures must align

15 JunBooker deal ‘will free up £500m war chest for Tesco’

29 JunCity snapshot: Tesco/Booker request swift move to in-depth competition investigation

 

July 

12 JulTesco-Booker merger: why the CMA’s phase two review will come down to 350 hotspots

12 JulTesco-Booker: CMA’s ‘fast-track’ investigation looks like good news for the deal

21 JulyCMA vows to investigate Tesco-Booker impact on P&H

 

August

17 AugYou are wrong, wrong, wrong on Tesco-Booker, CMA!

24 AugTesco and Booker’s five arguments for the CMA

 

September 

05 SepBestway claims Tesco-Booker deal will ‘distort’ wholesale

 

October 

6 OctWholesalers unite to urge CMA to block Tesco-Booker deal

13 OctCity News: Booker shares steady ahead of CMA decision

 

November 

09 NovWe are on the cusp of two watersheds in convenience history

14 NovTesco £3.7bn Booker takeover gets green light from CMA

 

Watch: Three big opportunities for suppliers from the Tesco-Booker merger