DX Network Services / Legal Post and First Post merger inquiry

The CMA investigated and cleared the completed acquisition by DX Network Services Limited of the businesses and assets comprising the Legal Post (Scotland) Limited and First Post Limited.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 5 July 2016
• Last updated: 17 November 2016 — See all updates

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Communications
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 clearance
• Opened: 5 July 2016
• Closed: 17 November 2016

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date	Action
17 November 2016	Decision published
21 October 2016	Decision announced
14 September 2016	Revocation of the initial enforcement order
7 September 2016	Launch of merger inquiry
5 to 19 August 2016	Invitation to comment
4 July 2016	Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

CMA clearance decision

21 October 2016: The CMA has cleared the completed acquisition by DX Network Services Limited of the businesses and assets comprising The Legal Post (Scotland) Limited and First Post Limited. The full text of the decision is available below.

• Full text decision (17.11.16)

Revocation of initial enforcement order

15 September 2016: In view of the evidence available to the CMA at this stage, the CMA revoked the initial enforcement order on 14 September 2016.

• Revocation order (15.9.16)

Launch of merger inquiry

8 September 2016: On 7 September, the CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

• Commencement of initial period notice (8.9.16)

Invitation to comment: Now closed

5 August 2016: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted 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 has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

Initial enforcement order

4 July 2016: The CMA served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on DX Network Services Limited and DX (Group) plc in relation to the completed acquisition by DX Network Services Limited of the businesses and assets comprising the Legal Post (Scotland) Limited and First Post Limited.

• Initial enforcement order (5.7.16)

Amendments/consents granted

• Derogation 26 August 2016 (31.8.16)
• Derogation 10 August 2016 (11.8.16)
• Derogation 1 August 2016 (9.8.16)
• Derogation 20 July 2016 (21.7.16)

Contact

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

Emma Budge
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4AD

emma.budge@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Published 5 July 2016
Last updated 17 November 2016 + show all updates

1. 17 November 2016

   Full text decision published.

2. 21 October 2016

   Clearance decision announced.

3. 15 September 2016

   Revocation order published.

4. 8 September 2016

   Launch of CMA merger inquiry.

5. 31 August 2016

   Derogation published.

6. 11 August 2016

   Derogation published.

7. 9 August 2016

   Derogation published.

8. 5 August 2016

   Invitation to comment issued.

9. 21 July 2016

   Derogation published.

10. 5 July 2016

    First published.