Woolworths Ltd - completed acquisition of a supermarket site at Newport, NSW
Type of assessment
Informal Review
Reference
39929
Acquirer(s)
Woolworths Ltd
Target(s)
Supermarket site at Newport in New South Wales
Industry
Grocery
Summary
Woolworths had recently acquired two pieces of land in Newport, NSW from the Pittwater Council and in 2007 acquired an adjoining piece of land from a third party. Woolworths intended to develop a new supermarket on the combined sites.
Outcome of assessment
Not opposed
Total review days *
13
Commenced public review
8th December 2009
Date completed
24th December 2009
Market definition
The completed acquisition was considered in the context of the following markets:
- the local retail supermarket market,
- the NSW wholesale market for products sold in supermarkets, and
- the NSW market for the procurement of products sold in supermarkets by supermarket wholesalers from growers and suppliers of products sold in supermarkets.
Competition analysis
The ACCC considered that if the completed acquisition by Woolworths did not proceed, it was unlikely that the site would have been developed to include a supermarket operated by an alternative supermarket operator. When comparing the likely state of competition 'with' the completed acquisition to the likely state of competition 'without' the completed acquisition, the ACCC considered that the completed acquisition was unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in any relevant market.
Review timeline
Date
Event
8th December 2009
ACCC commenced review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.
15th December 2009
Closing date for submissions from interested parties.
24th December 2009
ACCC announced it would not oppose the acquisition.
* Total Review days = Total business days less public holidays and time during which the review was suspended.
