The Competition and Markets Authority has appointed the four panel members who will conduct the in-depth Phase 2 investigation into the acquisition of Bournemouth Water by Pennon Group plc, owners of South West Water.

The panel will be chaired by specialist utility panel member Simon Polito. , Sarah Chambers – also a specialist utility panel member-  Jayne Scott and Andrew Popham are the other appointees.

The administrative timetable for the investigation is now as follows:

• June/July 2015                 Gather information, issue questionnaires, hear third parties
• August/September 2015  Main party hearing, verify information, consider provisional findings
• Early September 2015      Deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions required before provisional findings
• September 2015               Publish provisional findings
• Early October 2015          Consider possible remedies and response hearing(s) (if required)22
• Late October 2015           Final deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions
• November 2015                Publish final report
• 22 November 2015           Statutory deadline