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U.K.: Grocery supply merger concerns OFT, referred to Competition Commission

By  |  November 9, 2012

A review of Booker Group plc’s intentions to buy Makro Holding Limited by the Office of Fair Trading has led to a referral to the Competition Commission due to concerns the deal would “reduce competition between cash and carry outlets.” The market, according to the OFT, is worth up to £11 billion in the U.K. The OFT’s biggest concern is the reduction of competition over reaching caterers to supply grocery products. The deal would yield only three major competitors in the sector instead of the current four. Thirteen specific local areas are also a concern for the OFT, where the two companies overlap in competition.

Full Content: Office of Fair Trading

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