McCormick and Unilever deal one step closer: US approves, now it’s up to the UK

McCormick has cleared a major hurdle in the United States regarding its planned acquisition of Unilever’s food business. However, the transaction is not yet finalized, as the British competition authority is still investigating the deal.

British review continues

On October 5, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ended the antitrust waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ahead of schedule. Such an early termination occurs when the reviewing authorities determine that a deal is unlikely to substantially reduce competition. With this, McCormick and Unilever have taken the next step toward combining their portfolios in sauces, seasonings, and spices.