Stagecoach acquisition approved

THE OFFICE of Fair Trading has approved Stagecoach’s acquisition of English bus company Go West Travel.

The Perth-based public transport giant announced its swoop for the firm, which operates under the Norfolk Green banner, in December in a deal completed for an undisclosed fee.

The OFT called in the deal in January to probe whether it created a relevant merger situation and if that was likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the marketplace.

With the acquisition cleared, around 160 staff at Norfolk Green will formally join the Stagecoach stable.