United Utilities Plc / 1st Software Group Ltd

OFT closed case: Anticipated acquisition by United Utilities plc of 1st Software Group Ltd

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 14 March 2006

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Electronics
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 found not to qualify
• Closed: 14 March 2006

Affected market: Back office software

No. ME/2248/06

On the basis of the information available to it, the Office of Fair Trading has decided that the anticipated acquisition by United Utilities PLC of 1st Software Group Limited does not qualify for investigation under the mergers provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 (the Act), because neither the UK turnover test nor the share of supply test in section 23 of the Act is met.  A relevant merger situation has, therefore, not been created.

Published 14 March 2006