OFT refers merger deal

An Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into the acquisition of Ultralase by Optimax (News 07.12.12) has resulted in a referral to the Competition Commission.

The OFT referred the now-completed merger over concerns it could ‘reduce competition for laser eye surgery and lead to higher prices and reduced quality of service for patients’. It said the merger could result in less competition in six local areas, including Milton Keynes and Northampton, Chelmsford and Southend, Glasgow, Nottingham, Maidstone, and Liverpool and Chester.

A statement added that the OFT had not been notified of the deal and began its investigation after the merger was made public in December last year, when it said Ultralase clinics had already been closed where the parties had local overlapping presence.