Source: Office of Fair Trading
The OFT today announced the clearance of the anticipated merger between NYSE Group, Inc and Euronext N.V., operators of the NYSE and Euronext stock exchanges.
The OFT focused its inquiry on the impact of the merger on UK customers, particularly in listing and equities trading, and concluded that no relevant competition concerns were raised. While a number of third parties raised concerns, these either did not relate to the prospect that the merger would substantially lessen competition in the UK or were otherwise unpersuasive in light of the weight of evidence available.
As always, this decision is without prejudice to the review by the OFT or other competition authorities of any other potential consolidation in this area.