29th Jul 2005 11:00
Office of Fair Trading29 July 2005 INVITATION TO COMMENT Anticipated acquisition by Somerfield plc of two stores from Wm MorrisonSupermarkets 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 two stores being acquired are located at Bramley, Leeds and Morningside,Edinburgh. The Bramley store is one of the one-stop stores that Morrisons isrequired to divest under the undertakings given by it to the Secretary of Statefor Trade and Industry on 8 December 2003 (the Undertakings)(1), following theCompetition Commission's report on the proposed acquisition of Safeway. The Undertakings require Morrisons to sell the store to a purchaser approved bythe OFT pursuant to paragraph 8.1 of the Undertakings. Morrisons has requestedthe OFT's approval for the sale to Somerfield of the Bramley store. Beforegiving such approval, the OFT invites interested parties to make their viewsknown. Affected sector: Grocery retailing Please send written representations about the anticipated acquisition or therequest for approval under the undertakings to: Mr Darrell Channing Office of Fair Trading Mergers Branch Fleetbank House 2-6 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8JX to arrive by 12 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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