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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched its formal investigation into the proposed merger between J Sainsbury PLC and Asda Group.
Since the announcement of the proposed merger on 30 April, the CMA has been gathering the information needed to start its formal investigation. It will now begin the first phase of its detailed assessment into how the deal could affect competition for UK shoppers.
The investigation will consider whether the deal could lead to less choice, and therefore higher prices or worse quality services, across the range of products sold by both businesses. As well as being major retailers of groceries, both in-store and online, Sainsbury’s and Asda also compete to sell goods such as fuel, electricals, toys and clothing.
The CMA will also look at whether the merged company could use its increased buyer power to squeeze suppliers and whether this could have potential knock-on effects for shoppers.
Concerns centre around issues such as suppliers being less able to innovate or having to charge higher prices to stores that compete with the merged company.
Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: “About £190 billion is spent each year on food and groceries in the UK so it’s vital to find out if the millions of people who shop in supermarkets could lose out as a result of this deal.
“We will carry out a thorough investigation to find out if this merger could lead to higher prices or a worse quality of service for shoppers and will not allow it to go ahead unless any concerns we find are fully dealt with.”
Sainsbury’s and Asda have asked the CMA to move more quickly to the in-depth (Phase 2) part of the inquiry through a ‘fast-track’ process.
The CMA is now inviting views by 31 August on how the merger could affect competition. This follows the preliminary invitation to comment launched at the start of the information gathering period. Further opportunities to submit views will also be provided during the Phase 2 investigation.
