REG - Competition and Mkts - Merger Update: Asda/Coop

WalmartAnnouncement

18/04/2023 11:45

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RNS Number : 5952W  Competition and Markets Authority  18 April 2023

 

 

CMA invites comments on supermarket petrol station merger remedy:

 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a consultation on
undertakings proposed by Asda Stores Limited (Asda) to address competition
concerns over its completed acquisition of Arthur Foodstores Limited from
Co-operative Group Limited.

 

On 14 March 2023, the CMA announced that it would refer the acquisition for an
in-depth investigation unless Asda offered acceptable undertakings to address
the CMA's concerns.

 

To address the CMA's concerns, Asda has offered to divest 13 retail fuel sites
with attached grocery stores in each of the three local areas in which the CMA
found that the merger gave rise to a realistic propsect of a substantial
lessening of competition.

 

On 28 March 2023, the CMA announced that it would look in detail at these
undertakings. The CMA has until 30 May 2023 to consider whether to accept the
undertakings, or a modified version of them. As part of this process, the CMA
is now consulting publicly on whether the proposals are sufficient to address
the CMA's competition concerns.

 

Before reaching a final decision, the CMA is therefore inviting interested
parties to make their views known. The deadline for responses is 3 May 2023.

 

The consultation on the undertakings and all other information relating to
this merger investigation can be found on the case page at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases (https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases) .

 

In the event of media enquiries please call Jackie Lloyd on 020 3738 6989.

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