The competition watchdog is to scrutinise the merger between two of the powered access market’s biggest players.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed it will run the rule over the anticipated acquisition between French-owned Loxam Group through its UK subsidiary Nationwide Platforms of UK Platforms.
The CMA said it would investigate whether the deal would result in a lessening of competition within UK markets, as part of provisions under the Enterprise Act 2002.
HSS, which has owned UK Platforms since it bought the business from manufacturer Haulotte in 2013, announced a conditional £60.5m deal to sell it to Nationwide in July this year.
As part of the deal, HSS also entered into a long-term strategic commercial agreement with Nationwide to provide powered access equipment to complement HSS’s existing fleet.
Nationwide Platforms is the largest hire firm in the mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP) market in the UK.
The CMA is inviting comments on the proposed acquisition up until a deadline of 21 November. They should be sent to case officer Rafia Saif: [email protected]
