UK competition watchdog to probe Sumitomo's Macquarie helicopter deal (updated)

Sumitomo

07/10/2025 13:09

Updates with details and background throughout

Oct 7 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator said on Tuesday that it has opened an investigation into the proposed acquisition of Macquarie Group's MQG.AX helicopter leasing division by a Sumitomo Corporation subsidiary.

SMFL LCI Helicopters, a helicopter‑leasing joint venture of Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing, said in March it would buy the Macquarie unit, which has a fleet of about 120 leased aircraft, in a deal valued at slightly over $1 billion,
Nikkei reported.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it is assessing whether the deal could lead to a "substantial lessening of competition" in any UK market for goods or services.

Macquarie did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Sumitomo could not be reached.

The CMA has set a deadline of December 3 for its phase 1 decision.

 (Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

 ((DhanushVignesh.Babu@thomsonreuters.com))