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Australia: ACCC won’t oppose Wesfarmers/Catch deal

By  |  August 5, 2019

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has decided not to oppose the proposed acquisition of online retailer Catch Group by Wesfarmers.

Wesfarmers⁠—through its Kmart and Target stores—and Catch both retail a variety of products to consumers, ranging from clothing and general merchandise to homewares and electronics.

Catch offers out-of-season, clearance, or overrun branded products, as well as operating a growing online marketplace through which third-party sellers supply products.

The ACCC’s review of the proposed acquisition examined both physical and online retail competition, as well as whether there would be any potential impact on third-party marketplace sellers.

“We reviewed whether Wesfarmers’ retail position could be leveraged into online sales and marketplaces in an anti-competitive way,” ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said.

Full Content: ACCC

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