Send For Help Limited / SoloProtect Limited and SoloProtect US LLC merger inquiry
The CMA investigated the anticipated acquisition by Send For Help Limited of SoloProtect Limited and SoloProtect US LLC
Statutory timetable
| Phase 1 date | Action |
|---|---|
| 12 June 2019 | Decision published |
| 10 May 2019 | Decision announced |
| 12 March to 26 March | Invitation to comment |
| 12 March 2019 | Launch of merger inquiry |
Phase 1
Merger abandoned
17 May 2019: Send for Help and SoloProtect have abandoned their merger following competition concerns raised by the CMA.
Send for Help announced its intention to purchase SoloProtect in February 2019. The businesses are two of the UK’s largest suppliers of lone worker protection services. These services are used by public sector organisations and businesses to provide employees, such as social workers, with personal alarm devices, connected to monitoring and response services, enabling them to get help where faced with danger.
The CMA’s investigation found that Send for Help is, by some distance, the largest supplier of lone worker protection services in the UK and so could face insufficient competition after acquiring SoloProtect, which is one of its few major competitors. This finding raised concerns that the merger could result in customers paying higher prices or receiving lower quality services, which could have had an adverse impact on lone workers, including many working with vulnerable people, encountering emergencies and risks across the UK.
While at this stage of the investigation the companies had the option to try to address the CMA’s concerns, or to proceed to a more in-depth ‘phase 2’ investigation, they have now decided to abandon the transaction.
Reference unless undertakings accepted
10 May 2019: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.
- (12.6.19)
Invitation to comment: closes 26 March 2019
12 March 2019: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.
Launch of merger inquiry
12 March 2019: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.
• (13.3.19)
Contact
Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:
Last updated 12 June 2019 + show all updates
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The full text of our decision made on 10 May 2019 has been published.
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Abandonment of merger announced.
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Phase 1 decision announced.
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First published.