Paddy Power / Betfair merger cleared at Phase I

RBB advised on the merger between Paddy Power and Betfair, which was notified in Ireland and the UK.  Both companies overlap in the online gambling (betting and gaming) segment (only Paddy Power is active in retail gambling).  RBB advised both parties in respect of market definition, closeness of competition and potential vertical effects, working alongside Arthur Cox, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy.  The merger was cleared unconditionally by the CMA in the UK and the CCPC in Ireland at Phase I.  RBB’s evidence was referred to a number of times by the CCPC.