Regulator asks Australian Clinical to divest collection centres for Healius buyout (updated)

Healius

03/10/2023 24:42

(Adds context and details in paragraphs 2, 4-5, comment in
paragraph 3)
       Oct 3 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog on
Tuesday said Australian Clinical Labs'  ACL.AX  proposed buyout
of medical centre operator Healius  HLS.AX  would require it to
divest its approved collection centres (ACCs) across the
country.
    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in
July said the acquisition would lessen competition in the
pathology services markets.
    "We are now seeking feedback from stakeholders on whether
the draft undertaking offered by ACL would be capable of
addressing the competition concerns," ACCC Commissioner Stephen
Ridgeway said.
    The proposed buyout would require ACL to divest 60 ACCs in
Perth, 25 ACCs across regional Victoria, and 14 ACCs in the
Northern Territory, the regulator said.
    The country's largest pathology services providers,
Australian Clinical Labs in March offered to acquire Healius
through an all-share takeover.
    ACL did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for
comment.


($1 = 1.5726 Australian dollars)

 (Reporting by Ayushman Ojha; Editing by Maju Samuel and Rashmi
Aich)
 ((Ayushman.Ojha@thomsonreuters.com;))