U.K. watchdog readies decision in Mastercard-VocaLink merger

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The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is on the verge of announcing its decision in its regulatory review of Mastercard’s acquisition of VocaLink, the London-based agency said.

The CMA early this year flagged a potential threat to competition in the U.K. from the $920 million merger, noting that Mastercard’s control of the Link ATM network would reduce the U.K.’s domestic ATM network options from three providers to just two (with Visa).

The agency sketched a few possible solutions Mastercard could consider to offset the competitive risk, and as early as Wednesday the CMA is expected to release its verdict on whether Mastercard’s response will be satisfactory or warrant a deeper investigation by U.K. regulators.

DANIEL ACKER/BLOOMBERG NEWS