Digicel to appeal court ruling on Jamaica merger

(Jamaica Gleaner) Telecommunications firm Digicel has indicated that it will be appealing against a Supreme Court ruling that was handed down this morning.

Digicel had filed a petition claiming that the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) had no right to intervene in the Digicel-Claro merger.

The FTC was seeking to overturn the acquisition and subsequent merger of the rival mobile telephone operators Digicel Jamaica and Claro Jamaica.

The FTC has argued that Digicel’s acquisition of Claro’s Jamaican business is likely to damage competition and stymie consumer benefits.

But Digicel was claiming that the FTC is seriously misguided in its thinking that the company’s acquisition would be detrimental to consumer welfare.

However, this morning Justice Ann Marie Haynes dismissed Digicel’s application.