Tue 14th Nov 2017 - CMA provisionally clears Tesco’s £3.7bn takeover of Booker CMA provisionally clears Tesco’s £3.7bn takeover of Booker: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared Tesco’s £3.7bn takeover of Booker after concluding the deal does not raise competition concerns. The CMA stated: “A group of independent CMA panel members has investigated how bringing together the UK’s largest grocery retailer and the UK’s largest grocery wholesaler would affect competition. It examined evidence from Tesco and Booker, as well as evidence from more than 65 wholesalers, suppliers and retail chains and a survey of hundreds of retailers. The CMA found Tesco as a retailer and Booker as a wholesaler – supplying to caterers, independent and symbol group retailers including Premier, Londis and Budgens – did not compete head-to-head in most of their activities. In particular, Tesco does not supply the catering sector to which Booker makes over 30% of its sales. The group, recognising that Tesco’s shops nevertheless compete with Booker-supplied shops, considered the impact of the merger in every local area where a Tesco and a Booker-supplied shop are both present (more than 12,000 shops). It did this to examine whether, in any of these areas, it might be profitable for the merged company to raise prices or reduce service levels either in retail or wholesale. The CMA has provisionally concluded the level of competition in the grocery wholesale and retail markets would be sufficient to defeat such a strategy. A number of competing wholesalers expressed concern that Booker would benefit from improved suppliers’ terms after the merger, making it difficult for them to continue to compete. They argued that as a result, in the longer term, Booker might be able to raise prices to the shops that it supplies. The CMA found it was likely Booker would be able to negotiate better terms from a number of its suppliers for some of its groceries, and that it was likely to pass on some of the benefits of these savings to the shops that it supplies. This might increase competition in the wholesale market, as well as reducing prices for shoppers. However, the CMA also concluded that the wholesale market would remain competitive in the longer term, noting that Booker’s share of the UK grocery wholesaling market – at less than 20% – was not sufficient to justify the longer-term concerns.” Chair of the inquiry group Simon Polito said: “Millions of people use their local supermarket or convenience store to buy their groceries or essentials. Strong competition in the market ensures that shoppers can choose the best deal for them. Our investigation has found that existing competition is sufficiently strong in both the wholesale and retail grocery sectors to ensure that the merger between Tesco and Booker will not lead to higher prices or a reduced service for supermarket and convenience shoppers.” The CMA opened its phase one investigation into the merger in May. At the end of June, the companies requested a “fast track” referral to the next stage of the investigation. The CMA said it was a provisional decision and was now inviting further comment and evidence before coming to a final view. Booker stated: “We are pleased the CMA has provisionally concluded this transaction does not lessen competition, and will continue to work with the CMA ahead of its publication of a final decision, expected in December. We are grateful for the support of customers, suppliers and colleagues during this process.” Tesco stated: “We look forward to creating the UK’s leading food business, bringing together our combined expertise in retail and wholesale. This merger has always been about growth, and will bring benefits for independent retailers, caterers, small businesses, suppliers, consumers, and colleagues. We anticipate completion of the merger in early 2018.”