The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose the acquisition by Lake Imaging of diagnostic imaging practices in Ballarat and Geelong from St John of God Healthcare, ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
In reaching its decision, the ACCC took account of court-enforceable undertakings received from Lake Imaging and St John of God addressing potential competition concerns about the supply of ultrasound services in Ballarat.
The undertakings remove possible contractual impediments to certain potential new ultrasound providers commencing practice in Ballarat. The undertakings will appear on the ACCC's public register in due course.
Lake Imaging proposes to acquire the St John of God's entire diagnostic imaging practice in Geelong but only St John of God's ultrasound and nuclear medicine practices in Ballarat.
St John of God Healthcare is a non-profit health care provider. Among other things, it operates private hospitals and diagnostic imaging practices in Ballarat and Geelong. Lake Imaging operates a diagnostic imaging practice from eight premises in Victoria, including in Ballarat and Geelong.