InvoCare Limited - proposed acquisition of Liberty Funerals
Type of assessment
Informal Review
Reference
26198
Acquirer(s)
InvoCare Limited
Target(s)
Liberty Funerals
Industry
Funeral direction services
Summary
InvoCare Limited - proposed acquisition of Liberty Funerals
Outcome of assessment
Not opposed
Total review days *
13
Commenced public review
8th February 2007
Date completed
26th February 2007
Market definition
The proposed acquisition was considered in the context of the Sydney market for the supply of funeral direction services
Competition analysis
On 26 February 2007, the ACCC formed the view that the proposed acquisition was unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the relevant market. Factors informing this conclusion included:
- the increase in the merged firm's market share would be relatively small;
- there will remain a number of alternative suppliers to which customers could turn, including in the local areas of Liberty Funerals' operations;
- barriers to entry appear to be low; and
- there do not appear to be any vertical foreclosure concerns raised by the proposed acquisition.
Review timeline
Date
Event
8th February 2007
ACCC commences review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines. Market inquiries commence.
19th February 2007
Closing date for submissions from interested parties.
26th February 2007
ACCC announced it would not oppose the proposed acquisition
* Total Review days = Total business days less public holidays and time during which the review was suspended.
