The competition regulator has formally launched an initial investigation into the planned $7.3 billion takeover of Inmarsat, Britain’s largest satellite group, by Viasat, a US competitor.
The Competition and Markets Authority said yesterday that it is looking into whether the deal would result in a “substantial lessening of competition”.
It has given interested parties until August 15 to comment and officials have until October 5 to announce whether to refer the deal for a full phase 2 investigation.
Inmarsat, a former UN agency, has 14 satellites in orbit and plans to launch six more by 2025.
It provides telecoms communications services to the Ministry of Defence and was founded in 1979. It was listed in 2005.
Viasat agreed a series of legally binding undertakings
