14th Apr 2005 15:00
Office of Fair Trading14 April 2005 Merger Update ANTICIPATED ACQUISITION BY VIRGIN GROUP INVESTMENTS LIMITED AND STAGECOACH GROUPPLC OF THE INTERCITY EAST COAST MAINLINE FRANCHISE Following the Strategic Rail Authority's announcement on 22 March 2005 that GNERhad been awarded the new franchise to operate the ICEC, the OFT no longerbelieves that arrangements are in progress or in contemplation whereby Virginand Stagecoach might obtain control of the ICEC. Therefore the OFT is no longerseeking undertakings from Virgin and Stagecoach and will not refer the merger tothe Competition Commission under the provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002. The text of this decision will be placed on the Office of Fair Trading's website at www.oft.gov.uk and will also appear in the Office's Weekly Gazette assoon as is reasonably practicable. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
SGC.L