The UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has opened an investigation into the proposed private equity consortium takeover of Inmarsat. Inmarsat is the UK headquartered leading global mobile satellite communications provider of connectivity to ships, aircraft, and generally to locations not covered by traditional mobile networks.
Moreover, it is reported that the CMA has also flagged the deal to the government on the basis of national security concerns. This was done under new threshold tests introduced in 2018 to facilitate a higher level of scrutiny over mergers and acquisitions involving companies involved in Critical National Infrastructure in the UK.
The CMA’s case page can be found here.
Please contact Tim Cowen if you have any questions relating to merger control in general, or the Critical National Infrastructure threshold tests in particular.