OFT finds fault in Arriva and Go Ahead bus transactions but allows deals to proceed

The Office of Fair Trading has today exercised its discretion not to refer to the Competition Commission two acquisitions by Go Ahead and Arriva in the North East of England.

Arriva and Go Ahead entered into two separate agreements to transfer local bus routes - including related assets and staff - around Hexham and Ashington in Northumberland.

The OFT concluded that each transaction gave rise to a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition. The principal concern created by...