Matt Martin
13:49 (BST)
01/06/2007
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Office of Fair Trading to investigate Gamestation acquisition
Merger with GAME under government spotlight
The UK's Office of Fair Trading is looking into GAME's recent acquisition of rival High Street chain Gamestation.
The OFT enforces competition law, and is currently looking into the GBP 74 million (EUR 108m) retail buyout to see if it will result in reduced competition in the games retail market.
The case could then be referred to the Competition Commission, responsible for investigating mergers and monopolies.
"The Office of Fair Trading is considering whether arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002," detailed the OFT.
"Should it be found to be a relevant merger situation, the OFT will further consider whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services that warrants reference to the Competition Commission for investigation and report."
The GAME Group offered the following comment: "As expected we have notified the acquisition of Gamestation to the OFT for normal regulatory review. This review will take about two months and we will be co-operating fully with the OFT process."
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