General Motors Corporation - proposed acquisition of the steering business of Delphi Corporation

Summary

General Motors Corporation (GMC) proposed to acquire the global steering business of Delphi Corporation (Delphi Steering).

Market definition

While the ACCC did not consider it necessary to reach a definitive view on market definition in this matter, the ACCC considered the proposed acquisition in the context of national markets for the manufacture of individual motor vehicle steering parts, namely steering gears, steering columns and steering pumps.

Competition analysis

The ACCC formed the view that the proposed acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets on the basis that alternative suppliers, particularly global suppliers capable of importing steering components into Australia, would continue to competitively constrain GMC post acquisition.

In addition, the ACCC noted that steering component manufacturers gain limited economies of scale or other competitive advantage by producing steering components for more than one car manufacturer. As such, the ACCC considered that any shift of supply from existing suppliers of GMC to Delphi Steering would be unlikely to inhibit alternative suppliers' ability to compete.