SMFLH / MRL merger inquiry

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated the completed acquisition by SMFL LCI Helicopters Limited (SMFLH) of Macquarie Rotorcraft Limited (MRL).

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
15 May 2025
Last updated
11 November 2025 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Open
Market sector:
Transport
Opened:
15 May 2025

Statutory timetable

Date Action
11 November 2025 Phase 1 decision announced
7 October 2025 Launch of merger inquiry
7 October 2025 to 21 October 2025 Invitation to comment
15 May 2025 Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

CMA clearance decision

11 November 2025: The CMA has cleared the completed acquisition by SMFL LCI Helicopters Limited of Macquarie Rotorcraft Limited. The full text of the decision will be published shortly.

Revocation of initial enforcement order

29 October 2025: In view of the evidence available to the CMA at this stage, the CMA has revoked the initial enforcement order.

Launch of merger inquiry

7 October 2025: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: closed

7 October 2025: 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.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.

Written representations about any competition issues should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Pre-notification

The CMA has received the necessary information from the parties to commence pre-notification.

Initial enforcement order

8 September 2025: The CMA has revoked and reissued the IEO imposed on 15 May 2025 in relation to the completed acquisition by SMFLH of MRL.

15 May 2025: The CMA has revoked and reissued the IEO imposed on 15 May 2025 in relation to the completed acquisition by SMFLH of MRL.

15 May 2025: The CMA has served an IEO under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. (SMFG), Sumitomo Corporation (SC), Sumitomo Mitsui Finance & Leasing Co. Limited (SMFL), SMFLH, and MRL.

Amendments / consents granted

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to smfl.macquarierotorcraft@cma.gov.uk

Privacy notice

Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy notice.

Updates to this page

Published 15 May 2025
Last updated 11 November 2025 show all updates

  1. Phase 1 decision announced.

  2. Derogations published

  3. Revocation order published.

  4. Commencement notice published.

  5. Revocation order and reissued initial enforcement order published.

  6. 2 derogation letters published

  7. Initial enforcement order revoked and reissued. Derogation consent published.

  8. First published.

Contents