GBST – FNZ Merger Remains Blocked Over Competition Concerns

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reassessed the purchase of GBST by rival FNZ has concluded the deal could lead to poorer service and higher prices.

The reassessment follows its request to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) for a remittal of its original ‘Phase 2’ decision to block the merger. This request was made after FNZ’s appeal to the CAT.

The risks of reducing competition in the sector arise because FNZ and GBST, which are both providers of retail investment platform solutions, are close competitors and few other significant suppliers offer effective and competitive alternatives.

In addition to retail investment platform solutions, GBST also has a capital markets business, which does not currently compete with any of FNZ’s existing activities in the UK.

The CMA has considered whether its concerns could be addressed by FNZ selling a narrower package of assets, rather than the sale of GBST in full.

The group also agrees to a proposal requiring FNZ to sell GBST to an independent third party approved by the CMA, with a right to subsequently buy back a limited set of assets relating to the capital markets business.

These assets that could be sold back to FNZ would be limited to those that could be transferred without affecting GBST’s competitiveness in the supply of retail investment platform solutions.

Martin Coleman, Chair of the CMA inquiry group, said: “Having completed our thorough review of the evidence, we have confirmed our provisional conclusion that the merger of FNZ and GBST could significantly decrease competition in the supply of retail investment platform solutions in the UK.

“Requiring FNZ to sell GBST, with the right to repurchase certain parts of the GBST business that are not related to the concerns that we have found, will protect investment platforms and the people they serve, including millions of people with pensions and other investments, from facing higher prices or poorer service in the future.”

A spokesperson for FNZ commented: “We welcome the completion of the CMA’s investigation. While we have not yet had the opportunity to review the full decision, we also welcome the fact that the CMA appears to have endorsed as effective and proportionate the remedy proposal that we put forward during the remittal process. We will now digest the detail of the CMA’s decision and consider our next steps.”