The Office of Fair Trading has referred the acquisition of Friends Reunited by online genealogy business brightsolid to the Competition Commission. 

The Office of Fair Trading has referred the acquisition of Friends Reunited by online genealogy business brightsolid to the Competition Commission.

Social networking site Friends Reunited launched Genes Reunited, a family history website in 2003. brightsolid, which is owned by Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson & Co, has its own genealogy businesses, findmypast.com and 1911 Census.com, and agreed to acquire Friends Reunited in August for £25 million.

The combined business represents two of the three largest suppliers of online genealogy services in the UK.

Amelia Fletcher, OFT senior director of mergers, said: ‘The proposed acquisition would see the three main providers of online genealogy services reduced to two, and we are concerned this could lead to a reduction in choice or service for consumers. We are therefore referring the merger to the Competition Commission for a fuller inquiry.’

A ruling is expected from the Competition Commission by April 2010. Friends Reunited was established in 2000 and was sold to ITV in 2005 for £175 million.