Sportech's Vernons bid cleared

Leisure Report, Nov, 2007

The Competition Commission has cleared Sportech's proposed acquisition of Vernons Football Pools.

It said: "Although Littlewoods and Vernons pools provide customers with similar products, we found little evidence that customers have switched between the two in the past. Similarly, the customer survey evidence we examined pointed to the conclusion that pools customers would be unlikely to switch in large numbers in the event of a future price rise."

Ian Penrose, Sportech's chief executive, said: "We are delighted that at the end of this process, we have received clearance to proceed with the acquisition of Vernons."