The Competition Commission has formally cleared McGill’s Bus Services Limited’s (McGill’s) completed acquisition of the Arriva Scotland West (ASW) local bus business.
McGill’s and ASW operated competing local bus services in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and the west of Glasgow, including the town of Paisley.
The Competition Commission has concluded that without the acquisition, both McGill’s and ASW would have continued to provide services in the Renfrewshire area, but although they were each other’s closest rivals, in future competition between them would have reduced. The Commission also concluded that the threat of entry into the area by large bus operators located nearby will provide sufficient incentive for McGill’s to avoid reducing frequencies or increasing fares as a result of the acquisition.
The final report is available on the Competition Commission inquiry home page along with all other information relating to the investigation.
Andrew Macnab was instructed by Stephen Hornsby (Partner, Goodman Derrick LLP, London) and Professor Peter Watson (Senior Partner and Head of Litigation, Levy & McRae, Glasgow) and acted on behalf of McGill’s Bus Services Limited.