Merger Update: Asda/Coop

CMA invites comments on supermarket petrol station merger remedy:

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a consultation on undertakings proposed by Asda Stores Limited (Asda) to address competition concerns over its completed acquisition of Arthur Foodstores Limited from Co-operative Group Limited.

On 14 March 2023, the CMA announced that it would refer the acquisition for an in-depth investigation unless Asda offered acceptable undertakings to address the CMA's concerns.

To address the CMA's concerns, Asda has offered to divest 13 retail fuel sites with attached grocery stores in each of the three local areas in which the CMA found that the merger gave rise to a realistic propsect of a substantial lessening of competition.

On 28 March 2023, the CMA announced that it would look in detail at these undertakings. The CMA has until 30 May 2023 to consider whether to accept the undertakings, or a modified version of them. As part of this process, the CMA is now consulting publicly on whether the proposals are sufficient to address the CMA's competition concerns.

Before reaching a final decision, the CMA is therefore inviting interested parties to make their views known. The deadline for responses is 3 May 2023.

The consultation on the undertakings and all other information relating to this merger investigation can be found on the case page at https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases.

In the event of media enquiries please call Jackie Lloyd on 020 3738 6989.