Somerfield Stores Ltd / WM Morrison Supermarkets plc

OFT closed case: Anticipated acquisition by Somerfield Stores Ltd of four former Safeway Stores from WM Morrison Supermarkets plc

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 18 January 2006

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Retail and wholesale
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 1 found not to qualify
• Closed: 18 January 2006

Affected market: Grocery retailing

No. ME/2159/05

On the basis of the information available to it, the Office of Fair Trading has decided that the anticipated acquisition of four former Safeway stores and a petrol filling station by Somerfield Stores Ltd from WM Morrison Supermarkets plc does not qualify for investigation under the mergers provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 (the Act), because neither the UK turnover test nor the share of supply test in section 23 of the Act is met. A relevant merger situation has, therefore, not been created.

Published 18 January 2006