OFT clears rail franchise mergers as unimportant
Office of Fair Trading press notice that it is clearing Arriva's acquisition of the Cross Country franchise and National Express' acquisition of the East Coast franchise (ex GNER), despite having grounds to believe that they give rise to a substantial lessening of competition, because the affected coach and rail markets are "not of sufficient importance". This follows from revised OFT guidance on the meaning of "not of sufficient importance to justify a reference to the Competition Commission".
For further information or advice please contact Franck Latrémolière.
Filed under Merger control, OFT, Rail & bus.
