RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:What happens if question...meetoo or anyone elseJP1977, my general view regarding the CMA investigations is in previous posts. Buy, sell or hold CXR stock; do whatever you want in that regard. But do not let these investigations play any part in your decision. For at least the intermediate term, and possibly indefinitely into the future, they are irrelevent, except to the extent that they cause an irrational response from uninformed retail investors.
Meanwhile, you have identified a 30% post-acquisition price increase (roughly 15% per annum). If that is all it were, there would be no CMA investigation. The CMA's focus is mostly on the 198.32 price prior to the acqusition, which was the result of increases far, far in excess of 15% per annum.
I do not believe that these investigations will go the distance, or, if they do, there will be a finding of liability. They are mostly about political scapegoating. But even if they do get to that point, it is my opinion that the maximum penalty will not be applied, and that the penalty that is applied will be directed mostly against Cinven and the other previous owners of the subject drugs. If it gets to that stage, CXR's counsel will make it clear that the impugned conduct mostly occured when the companies were under the mind and management of others. They will also point out that CXR shareholders have already suffered precipitously, and that the management team and shareholder base have turned over almost 100% since the acts in question. And they will be right. While the concept of successor liability may have some application, it will largely be overridden by the fact that, with the exception of Cinven, it would serve no meaningful purpose to penalize the current management and shareholders of CXR, who played no part in the offending conduct. In this regard, Cinven can be dealth with independently of CXR.