UK competition watchdog to not refer AXA-Phoenix deal for further probe

Reuters

Published Aug 02, 2016 10:57

UK competition watchdog to not refer AXA-Phoenix deal for further probe

(Reuters) - Britain's competition watchdog said it would not refer French insurer AXA's (PA:AXAF) sale of its UK investment and pensions business to Phoenix Group (L:PHNX) for further investigation.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said last month that it was considering whether the proposed deal could lead to a cut in competition in UK markets.

AXA said in May that it would sell the business to Phoenix, Britain's largest owner of life assurance funds closed to new customers, completing a well-flagged exit from a mature life assurance market to focus on faster-growing emerging economies.