The United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared the proposed merger between Npower (a subsidiary of Innogy) and SSE Retail, saying the proposed transaction does not raise competition concerns. The higher tariff risk is currently dismissed and the two companies are not close rival for standard variable tariffs (SVT) customers.
However, the CMA remains open on its provisional decision by 20 September 2018 before coming to a final view. Deadline for its final report is due by 22 October 2018. The merger is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2018 or first quarter of 2019.
If the merger comes true, the "Big Six" would shrink to "Big Five" while SSE Retail and Npower would consolidate 11 million customer accounts, which represents 23% of the UK retail supply market, just behind British Gas in size (12.6 million).
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