A TRAVEL brochure group based in Ashford has pulled out of a takeover deal after it was referred to regulators. Orbital Marketing Services Group, parent company for BP Travel Marketing Services, withdrew from the plan to buy Dawson Marketing Services' travel operation, a trading division of Surridge Dawson.

It blamed the Office of Fair Trading's referral of the proposed deal to the Competition Commission. It said the move would have delayed completion of the deal "beyond timescales acceptable to both parties".

The OFT said the proposal "may raise competition concerns in the market for the distribution of tour operators' brochures to travel agents".

Orbital's managing director Paul Markland said: "We are disappointed that our acquisition of the Dawson operation has failed to gain regulatory approval from the OFT. Now it will be business as usual for BP Travel Marketing Services. Our focus remains firmly on continuing to provide our UK travel industry clients with a high quality brochure distribution service."