Virgin Group Investments / Stagecoach Group / InterCity East Coast franchise

OFT closed case: Anticipated acquisition by Virgin Group Investments Limited and Stagecoach Group plc of the InterCity East Coast Franchise.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 20 April 2005

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Transport
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 clearance with undertakings in lieu
• Closed: 20 April 2005

Affected market: Rail franchise

No. ME/1370/04

14 April 2005: Following the Strategic Rail Authority's announcement on 22 March 2005 that GNER had been awarded the new franchise to operate the ICEC, the OFT no longer believes that arrangements are in progress or in contemplation whereby Virgin and Stagecoach might obtain control of the ICEC. Therefore the OFT is no longer seeking undertakings from Virgin and Stagecoach and will not refer the merger to the Competition Commission under the provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Full text of the decision: virgin.pdf

Decision on referral: icecvirgin.pdf

Published 20 April 2005