Game/Gamestation merger given green light

Yesterday, UK retailer Game posted a set of interim financials in which it boosted its profit forecast once again for financial year 2007, and declared that year-on-year sales had been significantly up.

Now the retailer has even more to celebrate--today the Competition Commission cleared the company's acquisition of rival Gamestation, which was made public in May.

The Competition Commission said in a statement that it believed that "the merger of Game and Gamestation may not be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the markets for the supply of gaming software, consoles, and related accessories in the UK."

The decision was split between the board of four in relation to preowned games, so the chairman exercised the deciding vote--and concluded that she believed the merger was good to go.

The report also reveals that there was a second offer for Gamestation when Blockbuster announced that it was looking for buyers--although the interested company is not named. It also reiterated the original statement from Game--made immediately after the merger took place--that no store closures are planned.