Capita / Vodafone merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by Capita plc (parent company of PageOne Communications Ltd) of the UK one-way wide-area paging services business of Vodafone Ltd.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 10 March 2017
• Last updated: 30 May 2017 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Communications
• Opened: 10 March 2017
• Closed: 30 May 2017

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date	Action
30 May 2017	Decision published
10 May 2017	Decision announced
10 to 24 March 2017	Invitation to comment
10 March 2017	Launch of merger inquiry

Phase 1

Merger reference cancelled

30 May 2017: On 10 May 2017, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that Capita’s anticipated acquisition of Vodafone’s one-way wide-area-paging business would be referred for an in-depth investigation unless suitable undertakings were offered to remedy the competition concerns identified.

Capita and Vodafone have since confirmed that they have abandoned the transaction and, on this basis, the CMA has decided not to make a reference in this case.

Reference unless undertakings accepted

10 May 2017: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision is available below.

• Full text decision (30.5.17)
• News story: Pagers merger may face in-depth investigation(10.5.17)

Invitation to comment: Now closed

10 March 2017: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

Launch of merger inquiry

10 March 2017: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

• Commencement of initial period notice (10.3.17)

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:

mergersupportteam@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Published 10 March 2017
Last updated 30 May 2017 + show all updates

1. 30 May 2017

   Merger reference cancelled and full text decision published.

2. 10 May 2017

   Decision announced: reference unless undertakings accepted.

3. 10 March 2017

   First published.