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UK: Antitrust watchdog to investigate £1.4-bn J Sainsbury-Home merger

 |  May 29, 2016

Britain’s antitrust watchdog yesterday said that it will launch an inquiry into supermarket chain J Sainsbury Plc’s £1.4 billion ($2 billion) proposed acquisition of Home Retail Plc.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that it was investigating whether the deal could hurt competition in the UK.

”The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2001 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services,” it said in a statement.

The CMA added that it has invited comments latest by 13 June and it would decide on the merger by 25 July.

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