Sea Swift Pty Ltd - acquisition of assets of Endeavour Shipping Pty Ltd
Type of assessment
Informal Review
Reference
34554
Acquirer(s)
Sea Swift Pty Ltd
Target(s)
Endeavour Shipping Pty Ltd
Industry
Shipping
Summary
Sea Swift Pty Ltd's acquisition of Endeavour Shipping Pty Ltd.
Outcome of assessment
Not opposed
Total review days *
14
Commenced public review
24th October 2008
Date completed
4th December 2008
Market definition
The separate markets for the supply of shipping (freight and/or passenger) services from Cairns to each of:
-Thursday Island;
- Bamaga/Seisia;
- Weipa;
- Horn Island; and
- the outer Torres Strait islands.
Competition analysis
The ACCC considered a substantial lessening of competition would be unlikely to arise in any relevant market as a result of the acquisition. Factors informing the ACCC's view included:
- Perkins Shipping Pty Ltd (Perkins) is likely to continue to provide strong competition to Sea Swift on the Cairns-to-Weipa route;
- Sea Swift is likely to be constrained on the remaining shipping routes given the potential ability and incentive for new entry and expansion by other shipping service suppliers; and
- barriers to entry to any of the relevant markets do not appear to be substantial, as reflected in the recent history of entry including Perkins entry to the Cairns-to-Weipa route.
Review timeline
Date
Event
2nd October 2008
Sea Swift Pty Ltd acquired certain assets of Endeavour Shipping Pty Ltd.
24th October 2008
ACCC received a submission from Sea Swift Pty Ltd. ACCC commenced review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.
10th November 2008
Former closing date for submissions from interested parties.
27th November 2008
Closing date for submissions from interested parties.
4th December 2008
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.
