Costa Group Holdings Pty Ltd - proposed acquisition of Adelaide Mushrooms (Nominees) Pty Ltd
Type of assessment
Informal Review
Reference
50166
Acquirer(s)
Costa Group Holdings Pty Ltd
Target(s)
Adelaide Mushrooms (Nominees) Pty Ltd
Industry
Mushrooms
Summary
Costa Group Holdings Pty Ltd proposed to acquire Adelaide Mushrooms (Nominees) Pty Ltd's mushroom growing and wholesale supply business.
Outcome of assessment
Not opposed
Total review days *
33
Commenced public review
17th December 2012
Date completed
6th February 2013
Market definition
The ACCC did not consider that it was necessary to form a concluded view in relation to market definition.
The ACCC considered the effects of the proposed acquisition on the growing and wholesale supply of mushrooms on the east coast of Australia, the west coast of Australia and in Tasmania.
Competition analysis
The ACCC considered that the proposed acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in each market for the growing and wholesale supply of mushrooms.
The ACCC considered that barriers to entry and expansion by existing producers are low. The ACCC also considered that the extent of the competitive constraint that remaining suppliers would impose on Costa would not be significantly reduced by the proposed acquisition. In addition, the ACCC considered that larger customers, such as the major supermarket chains, would be able to exercise countervailing power in the form of supporting new entry or expansion by existing producers if they were dissatisfied with the terms of supply offered.
Review timeline
Date
Event
17th December 2012
ACCC commenced review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.
15th January 2013
Closing date for submissions from interested parties.
6th February 2013
Proposed date for announcement of ACCC's findings.
* Total Review days = Total business days less public holidays and time during which the review was suspended.
