5th Aug 2005 15:00
Office of Fair Trading05 August 2005 INVITATION TO COMMENT Anticipated acquisition by United Co-operatives Limited of divestment store atSaltney, Chester from Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc The Office of Fair Trading is considering whether arrangements are in progressor in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creationof a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act2002. Should it be found to be a relevant merger situation, the OFT willfurther consider whether the creation of that situation may be expected toresult in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets inthe United Kingdom for goods or services that warrants reference to theCompetition Commission for investigation and report. The Saltney store is one of the one-stop stores that Wm Morrison Supermarketsplc (Morrisons) is required to divest under the undertakings given by it to theSecretary of State for Trade and Industry on 8 December 2003 (the Undertakings)(1), following the Competition Commission's report on the proposed acquisitionof Safeway. The Undertakings require Morrisons to divest the store to a purchaser approvedby the OFT pursuant to paragraph 8.1 of the Undertakings. Morrisons hasrequested the OFT's approval for the divestment to United Co-operatives Limitedof the Saltney store. Before giving such approval, the OFT invites interestedparties to make their views known. Affected sector: Grocery retailing Please send written representations about the anticipated acquisition or therequest for approval under the undertakings to: Mr Darrell ChanningOffice of Fair TradingMergers BranchFleetbank House2-6 Salisbury SquareLondon EC4Y 8JX to arrive by 19 August 2005. Fax: 020 7211 8916 -------------------------- (1) The Morrisons undertakings are available on the OFT's website at http://www.oft.gov.uk/Business/Mergers+FTA/Advice/Advice+on+post+reference+undertakings/Safeway2.htm This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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