Press Release: Mergers: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into Travelport’s proposed acquisition of Worldspan

The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into Travelport’s proposed acquisition of Worldspan. Both companies provide electronic travel distribution services through a global distribution system (GDS). The Commission’s initial market investigation has found that the proposed transaction would give rise to competition concerns on the market for the provision of GDS services to travel service providers (airlines, car rental companies, hotels, etc) in the European Economic Area (EEA) and to travel agents in several Member States (Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and UK). A decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result of the investigation. The Commission now has 90 working days (until 13 September 2007) to take a final decision on whether the concentration would significantly impede effective competition within the EEA or a significant part of it.