National Express to buy First Midland Red

[gilesbus1]

National Express to buy First Midland Red
Looks like National Eexpress is to try to take over First Worcester, thus reducing FirstGroup back even further.


https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/177...operation/

[Metroline1511]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red
This would make the West Midlands & Worcestershire basically a National Express / Rotala duopoly, with Arriva and Stagecoach reaching the area from Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

[mikestone]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red
I think that is no more than canteen wibble. Certainly the thread title needs a question mark.

[Rodney259]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red

(06/07/2019 20:52)mikestone Wrote:  I think that is no more than canteen wibble. Certainly the thread title needs a question mark.

I agree can’t believe CMA would allow it.

[EDB325]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red

(16/08/2019 15:27)Rodney259 Wrote:  I agree can’t believe CMA would allow it.

No reason why the CMA would object surely ? Stagecoach have only a minimal presence in NXWM's area.

[wirralbus]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red

(16/08/2019 17:05)EDB325 Wrote:  No reason why the CMA would object surely ? Stagecoach have only a minimal presence in NXWM's area.

Its getting to a point in some areas of the country now that if the CMA intervene , the operation will just close and competitors will just swoop on the vacant patch anyway , better a coordinated takeover than a free for all .

[EDB325]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red

(16/08/2019 21:06)wirralbus Wrote:  Its getting to a point in some areas of the country now that if the CMA intervene , the operation will just close and competitors will just swoop on the vacant patch anyway , better a coordinated takeover than a free for all .

This is a point I've alluded to previously. The CMA will have to moderate their stance considerably in some areas if First continue to dispose of their operations wholesale.

[MTL0201]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red
If it happens, why would CMA reject National Express takeover of First Wyvern anyway, it's not as if NXWM have a presence in Worcestershire, NX only a couple of short sections just outside West Midlands county boundary, more likely to object Rotala if they bided for FW.

[Rodney259]

RE: National Express to buy First Midland Red

(17/08/2019 12:49)MTL0201 Wrote:  If it happens, why would CMA reject National Express takeover of First Wyvern anyway, it's not as if NXWM have a presence in Worcestershire, NX only a couple of short sections just outside West Midlands county boundary, more likely to object Rotala if they bided for FW.

My thoughts were that it would give NatEx a greater footprint in the West Midlands. If the CMA allowed it then presumably Stagecoach could buy Warrington and D&G. I agree most unlikely though!