Mastercard's VocaLink deal faces scrutiny for ATM impact

Mastercard's $900 million acquisition of British payment company VocaLink is under fire, as the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority contends the deal will give the card network an unfair advantage in ATM-related negotiations.

VocaLink provides software for the Link ATM network, which covers about 70,000 machines in the U.K. and Europe. The CMA is worried this will result in reduced bidders for future contracts, since the combined Mastercard/VocaLink will leave only Visa as a viable competitor.

"The Link ATM network provides an essential service for millions of customers," said Andrea Coscelli, CMA's acting chief, in a release. "It's important that Link has a good choice of providers when it comes to supplying the necessary infrastructure so it can take advantage of the opening up of payment systems to competition."

VocaLink also powers Bacs, the clearinghouse that processes most of the U.K.'s government salaries and benefits.The CMA has given Mastercard and VocaLink until Jan. 11 to address its concerns.

In a statement, Mastercard said "the CMA noted that it has no concerns related to providing infrastructure services to Bacs or the Faster Payments Service. We're pleased to have the opportunity to address their one concern, regarding the Link ATM scheme, in the timeframe provided. This acquisition promises to bring greater choice and innovation to the payment ecosystem, enabling people, governments and business to pay the way they want to pay."

DANIEL ACKER/BLOOMBERG NEWS