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Here’s Why Marston’s Share Price Plunged

Nigel Firth
Nigel Frith trader
Updated 24 Aug 2020
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Shares of Marston’s PLC (LON: MARS) crashed over 10% last Thursday after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into the company’s merger with Carlsberg UK.

Marston’s competitors argued for months that the proposed merger is likely to hurt the competition. The regulators have therefore launched a probe into the proposed merger.

“CMA must make sure that any merger does not stifle fair competition, access to market for brewers, and ensure decent consumer choice of beer in pubs up and down the country,” said Tom Stainer, the CEO of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The new company, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, should be worth nearly £800 million, with Carlsberg holding a 60% stake in the new firm. The deal was supposed to be closed in September, however, the latest move from the CMA has pushed this deadline back for four weeks.

Marston’s share price falls 10% on CMA investigation August 2020

Marston’s share price has recovered a portion of losses in the meantime, trading at 49.68p.

Nigel Firth
Nigel Frith trader
Nigel has been in the regulated financial services industry for nearly a decade, has previously owned a financial brokerage and has written many times for sites relating to personal finance and trading.