7th Jun 2005 15:00
Office of Fair Trading07 June 2005 ENTERPRISE ACT 2002 - PRIOR NOTICE OF MERGERS The OFT gives notice under Section 99(1) of the Enterprise Act 2002 (the Act)that a Merger Notice has been given under Section 96 of the Act in respect ofproposed arrangements for: Anticipated acquisition by Asda Stores Limited of twelve former Safeway storesin Northern Ireland from Wm Morrison plc. The period for considering this Notice will expire on 4 July 2005 unlessextended by the OFT under Section 97(2) of the Act. On 8 December 2003, following the Competition Commission's report on theproposed acquisition of Safeway, Asda and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. gave undertakingsto the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Those undertakings include acommitment by Asda and Wal-Mart not to acquire any Safeway assets except withthe prior written consent of the OFT. Asda has requested the OFT's consent to acquire the twelve former Safeway storesin Northern Ireland, together with the benefit of four development agreements inrespect of sites at Strabane, Enniskillen, Ballyclare and Sirocco. Beforegiving such consent, the OFT invites interested parties to make their viewsknown. Affected sector: Grocery retailing. Representations about the anticipated merger or the request for consent underthe undertakings may be made by 20 June 2005 to: Mr Darrell Channing OFT Mergers Branch Fleetbank House 2-6 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8JX FAX: (020) 7211 8916 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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