Summary
Invocare Ltd - proposed acquisition of Restbind Pty Ltd t/as Ann Wilson FuneralsMarket definition
The market for the provision of funeral direction services in Sydney and the related local markets for cremation services.Competition analysis
The ACCC noted the high level of concentration in the Sydney market for funeral direction services, but considered it unlikely that the proposed acquisition would substantially lessen competition due to the presence of alternative suppliers, including funeral directors in Sydney's northern suburbs such as Gregory & Carr (Bledisloe Holdings Pty Limited), Liberty Funerals, Bracks Maurer Funerals and Peninsular Funerals (among others).Furthermore, the ACCC believes InvoCare will be unable to raise the costs of its rivals in the related market for cremation services, such as Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, because of the preference of many customers for a particular crematorium and the ability of rival crematoria to differentiate their services.
The ACCC therefore concluded on 20 December 2005 that the proposed acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition.
Merger type
Horizontal, Vertical
Initiation
Parties