Mergers - invitations to comment

This page lists the most recent invitations to comment under the Enterprise Act.

Anticipated acquisition by Lloyds TSB plc of HBOS plc – public interest consideration
Please note that this information is part of the public interest invitation to comment listed below.

On 18 September 2008 the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise issued an intervention notice in the anticipated acquisition by Lloyds TSB plc of HBOS plc on public interest grounds to ensure the stability of the UK financial system. This means that the Secretary of State will make the final decision on whether the transaction should be referred to the Competition Commission, taking account of both competition and public interest issues.

The Office of Fair Trading is required to complete its competition investigation and make its report to the Secretary of State in accordance with section 44 of the Enterprise Act 2002 within the period ending on 24 October 2008. As part of its report, the Office of Fair Trading is required to include any representations it receives which relate to the public interest consideration specified in the intervention notice, the stability of the UK financial system, and is asking for representations on this point.

Public interest invitations to comment

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Lloyds TSB plc of HBOS plc - issued 25/09/2008 - please see additional information about this case at top of page
Affected sector: Banking services
Case officer: Lucília Falsarella Pereira - Email hbos.mergerinquiry@oft.gsi.gov.uk - fax 020 7211 8916
Deadline for comment:  8 October 2008

Merger notice

Parties: Anticipated contract award to Nuclear Management Partners Limited as the Parent Body Organisation for Sellafield Limited - issued 18/09/2008
Affected sector: Operation of nuclear licensed sites
Case officer: Michael Tilley 020 7211 8881 Email Michael.Tilley@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  1 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated merger between Grainfarmers Group and Centaur Grain - issued 12/09/2008
Affected sector: Grain marketing
Case officer: Andrea Murray 020 7211 8236 Email andrea.murray@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  25 September 2008
Deadline for consideration:  9 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Moto Hospitality Limited of First Motorway Services Limited - issued 07/08/2008
Affected sector: Motorway service areas
Case officer: Lucilia Falsarella Pereira 020 7211 8252 Email lucilia.falsarella-pereira@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  20 August 2008
Deadline for consideration:  22 September 2008

Other proposed and completed mergers under consideration

Parties: Proposed joint venture between Goodrich Corporation and Rolls-Royce plc - issued 30/09/2008
Affected sector: Aircraft engine controls
Case officer: Pat Fraser 020 7211 8339 Email cynthia.owusu-manu@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  13 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Nationwide Building Society of Derbyshire Building Society - issued 29/09/2008
Affected sector: Building societies
Case officer: Dimitrios Sinaniotis 020 7211 8911 Email dimitrios.sinaniotis@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  10 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Nationwide Building Society of Cheshire Building Society - issued 29/09/2008
Affected sector: Building societies
Case officer: Dimitrios Sinaniotis 020 7211 8911 Email dimitrios.sinaniotis@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  10 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated merger between Orbital Marketing Services Group Limited and Ocean Park Limited - issued 23/09/2008
Affected sector: Delivery of travel brochures to UK travel agents
Case officer: Carole Bowley 020 7211 8912 Email carole.bowley@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  7 October 2008

Parties: Completed acquisition by Tesco of Brian Ford Discount Store - issued 22/09/2008
Affected sector: Grocery retail
Case officer: Lucilia Falsarella Pereira 020 7211 8252 Email lucilia.falsarella-pereira@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  3 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by EirGrid plc of SONI Limited - issued 22/09/2008
Affected sector: Electricity Transmission
Case officer: Cynthia Owusu-Manu 020 7211 8452 Email Cynthia.Owusu-Manu@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  3 October 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Lloyds TSB of HBOS
Affected sector: Banking services
Case officer: Lucília Falsarella Pereira 020 7211 8252 Email hbos.mergerinquiry@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  2 October 2008

Parties: Completed acquisition by Capita Group plc of IBS OpenSystems plc - issued 16/09/2008
Affected sector: Provision of IT services to government
Case officer: Tim Geer 020 7211 8339 Email Tim.Geer@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  29 September 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by SRCL Limited of Cliniserve Holdings Limited - issued 11/09/2008
Affected sector: Waste management services
Case officer: Michael Tilley 020 7211 8881 Email michael.tilley@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  24 September 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Inbev N.V/S.A of Anheuserbusch Companies - issued 28/08/2008
Affected sector: Beer
Case officer: Pat Fraser 020 7211 8971 Email pat.fraser@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  11 September 2008

Parties: Completed acquisition by Arriva plc of KMP Buses - issued 14/08/2008
Affected sector: Local bus services
Case officer: Michael Tilley 020 7211 8881 Email michael.tilley@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  28 August 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Northgate Information Solutions UK Limited of Anite Public Sector Holdings Limited - issued 07/08/2008
Affected sector: Provision of IT services to Government
Case officer: Marie Didierlaurent 020 7211 8427 Email marie.didierlaurent@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  20 August 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by Hospedia Ltd (owner of Patientline UK Ltd) of Premier Telesolutions Limited - issued 05/08/2008
Affected sector: Bedside entertainment and communication systems
Case officer: Lucília Falsarella Pereira 020 7211 8252 Email lucilia.falsarella-pereira@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  18 August 2008

Parties: Anticipated acquisition by the Co-operative Group Limited of Somerfield Limited - issued 29/07/2008
Affected sector: Supermarkets
Case officer: Tim Geer 020 7211 8339 Email tim.geer@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  11 August 2008

Parties: Completed acquisition by RLMS Acquisitions Limited of certain assets of Inspired Gaming Group plc - issued 23/07/2008
Affected sector: Gaming and amusement machines
Case officer: Carole Bowley 020 7211 8912 Email carole.bowley@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  6 August 2008

Parties: Completed acquisition by Stagecoach Group plc of Highland Country Buses Ltd and Orkney Coaches Ltd - issued 19/06/2008
Affected sector: Bus services
Case officer: Dimitrios Sinaniotis 020 7211 8911 Email dimitrios.sinaniotis@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  2 July 2008

Parties: Completed acquisition by Fox Healthcare Acquisitions Limited (controller of Spire Healthcare Limited) of Classic Hospitals Group Limited - issued 03/04/2008
Affected sector: Private hospitals
Case officer: Lucilia Falsarella Pereira 020 7211 8252 Email lucilia.falsarella-pereira@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  17 April 2008

Parties: Proposed acquisition by Danisco A/S of Abitec Limited - issued 14/02/2008
Affected sector: Emulsifiers
Case officer: David du Parc Braham 020 7211 8288 Email david.duparc@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Deadline for comment:  27 February 2008