Metcash Trading Limited - completed acquisition of Fresh Market Meats
Type of assessment
Informal Review
Reference
37624
Acquirer(s)
Metcash Trading Limited
Target(s)
Fresh Market Meats
Industry
Packaged meat supply
Summary
Metcash has acquired Fresh Market Meats, a packaged meat supply business, which supplies meat products to independent grocery retailers in Western Australia.
Outcome of assessment
Not opposed
Total review days *
37
Commenced public review
25th May 2009
Date completed
15th July 2009
Market definition
The ACCC did not consider it necessary to come to a definitive view on market definition because the results of the competition analysis would be unchanged, regardless of the precise definition of the meat markets adopted.
Competition analysis
The ACCC formed the view that the completed acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets. Factors informing this conclusion included:
- that there was no horizontal overlap between the merger parties;
- that there was limited vertical overlap between the merger parties; and
- barriers to entry and expansion appeared to be low.
Review timeline
Date
Event
14th May 2009
Metcash advised the ACCC of the completed acquisition.
25th May 2009
ACCC commenced review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.
9th June 2009
Closing date for submissions from interested parties.
15th July 2009
ACCC announced it would not oppose the completed acquisition.
* Total Review days = Total business days less public holidays and time during which the review was suspended.
