Acquirer(s)

  • Little Company of Mary Health Care Ltd

Target(s)

  • The John James Memorial Hospital Ltd

Market definition

The ACCC considered the acquisition in the Canberra markets for:

(i) the supply to health funds (and entities undertaking similar functions - for
example, the Repatriation Commission) of the right for their members to be
supplied with general overnight hospital services at specified rates; and
(ii) the supply to health funds (and similar entities) of the right for their members
to be supplied with psychiatric hospital services at specified rates.

Competition analysis

The ACCC considered that the acquisition would be unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition. Post-acquisition, the Little Company of Mary Health Care Ltd would own two of the three general overnight private hospitals in Canberra. However, this was unlikely to significantly increase the level of bargaining power of the Little Company of Mary Health Care Ltd when negotiating with hospital services purchasers. Among other things, the ACCC took into account the negotiation of Hospital Purchaser Provider Agreements on a national basis, and Little Company of Mary Health Care Ltd's relatively small portfolio of hospitals nationally. Market inquiries were largely unconcerned with the proposed acquisition.

Timeline

Date Event

ACCC commenced review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.

Closing date for submissions from interested parties

ACCC announced that it would not oppose the proposed acquisition.