Britain's competition regulator will include German discounters Aldi and Lidl, and online giant Amazon, in its market probe of Sainsbury's proposed takeover of Asda, boosting the deal's chances of being approved without a big sale of stores.
Last month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an in-depth investigation of the £7.3 billion ($9.7 billion) supermarket deal.
Past probes have tended to focus on Britain's main supermarket groups. With the merger of No.2 player Sainsbury's and No.3 Asda set to overtake industry leader Tesco, a narrow definition of the market might have spelled trouble for the deal.
The CMA on Tuesday laid out the key areas it will scrutinise, at both a local and national level – including groceries, purchased both in-store and online; fuel; and other items such as toys, small electricals and children’s clothing.
"The level and impact of competition presented by newer or growing retailers – including Aldi and Lidl – will be considered alongside these issues," the CMA said.
Since the deal was announced in April, Sainsbury's and Wal Mart-owned Asda have argued discounters, online grocery and food delivery businesses like Deliveroo should all be included in the CMA's investigation, as their growth has fundamentally changed the market.
Aldi and Lidl, which offer limited ranges of products at value prices, have a combined market share of 13.2%, ahead of No. 4 Morrisons, research firm Kantar said on Tuesday.
UBS analysts have a base case scenario that a combined Sainsbury's and Asda will have to dispose of a modest 28-54 stores to address the CMA's competition concerns.
However, that number would have risen to 132-161 stores if the CMA had excluded the discounters in its analysis.
A source with knowledge of Sainsbury's and Asda's thinking has told Reuters that store disposals running "into the hundreds" would likely kill the deal.
Sainsbury's has 606 supermarkets, 815 convenience stores and 311 petrol filling stations. Asda has 584 grocery stores and 317 petrol filling stations.
Squeezed Suppliers?
The CMA said it would consider whether the deal could make it easier for Sainsbury's and Asda to align their commercial decision-making, leading to less vigorous competition.
It will also examine any potential efficiencies that might result from the deal and whether such savings could be passed on to shoppers.
It will look too at whether the combined group could use increased buyer power to squeeze suppliers and if this could have a potential knock-on effect for shoppers.
Sainsbury's and Asda have said the combined group would seek synergies of at least £500 million - £350 million of which would come from savings when buying from suppliers.
They argue suppliers will be able to grow their businesses as the combined group grows. They have said the deal will enable prices to be lowered by about 10% 'on many of the products customers buy regularly'.
Sainsbury's and Asda welcomed in a joint statement "the detailed and thorough review" by the CMA.
The regulator expects to issue provisional findings early next year, ahead of a statutory deadline for its final decision on 5 March.
Shares in Sainsbury's, up 24% so far this year, were down 1.7% at 300 pence at 1155 GMT, reflecting the industry data that showed both it and Asda losing market share.
News by Reuters, edited by Checkout, edited by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
