Competition body to look at Hillarys acquisition

The competition watchdog has drawn the curtains on the £300 million takeover of made-to-measure blinds and curtains firm Hillarys, amid potential concerns over the deal.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an initial enforcement order into the acquisition of Hillarys owner Bellotto by Dutch firm Hunter Douglas.

The move means Hunter Douglas will have to keep the two businesses separate until the CMA completes its initial investigations. Hunter Douglas announced it was snapping up Nottinghamshirebased Hillarys in May.

Hillarys employs more than 1,350 people across three manufacturing sites – two in Nottingham and one in Washington, Tyne and Wear – while it also has a network of 1,000 selfemployed advisers.

Parent group Bellotto was previously owned by private equity firm Ares Capital Corporation.

Hillarys was founded by Tony Hillary in 1971, starting life as a made-to-measure blind firm.