The CMA proposes to accept an offer from Morrisons to sell 28
McColl’s stores to address competition concerns in the areas
where those stores are located.
In July 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
launched its
investigation into Morrisons reported £190 million purchase
of stores owned by McColl’s Retail Group Plc.
Following its Phase 1 investigation, the CMA found that the deal
would not harm the vast majority of shoppers or other businesses,
but that it raised competition concerns in 35 areas. The two
retailers accepted these concerns and engaged with the CMA in
discussing potential remedies.
Morrisons has now offered to divest 28 McColl’s stores to a
purchaser or purchasers to be approved by CMA. This includes 26
stores in England (in areas such as Swindon, Lincoln and
Brentwood), 1 store in Scotland (Perth) and 1 store in Wales
(Newport).
The CMA is minded to accept these proposals, which appear to be
suitable to restore the loss of competition brought about by the
deal across each of the 35 local areas. While the number of
McColl’s stores that Morrisons is proposing to sell is lower than
the number of areas in which concerns were identified, the sale
of some stores would address the concerns in multiple areas.
The CMA is now consulting on the proposals – known as
undertakings – for the sale of these stores. If the CMA accepts
the proposals, the deal would be cleared to proceed.
Sorcha O’Carroll, CMA Senior Director of Mergers, said:
Our preliminary view is that the sale of these stores will
preserve competition in these local areas and prevent consumers
from losing out due to this deal, at a time when shoppers are
already facing rising prices.
If, after reviewing the responses to our consultation, we
conclude that the competition issues have been addressed, the
deal will be cleared.
McColl’s operates convenience newsagent shops, with over 1,100
stores across England, Scotland, and Wales, while Morrisons
(owned by parent company Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R))
has around 500 grocery stores in the UK. CD&R is also the
parent company of the Motor Fuel Group (MFG). MFG owns over 800
convenience stores, the vast majority of which are attached to
its petrol stations.
For more information, or to respond to our consultation, visit
the Morrisons/McColl’s merger
inquiry page.
Notes to Editors
- The CMA is publishing a notice of consultation and the text
of the Proposed Undertakings, alongside the text of the Phase 1
decision of 8 September 2022 and the decision of 23 September
2022 that the CMA is considering undertakings offered by
Morrisons. The CMA’s consultation is scheduled to run until 24
October 2022.
- On 8 September 2022, following a Phase 1 review, the CMA has
found that Morrisons acquisition of McColl’s gives rise to a
realistic prospect of substantial lessening of competition (SLC)
in relation to retailers in 35 local areas across England,
Scotland and Wales.
- The CMA served an initial enforcement order on 25 May 2022,
requiring the companies to operate independently, as they did
before the purchase, and the order remains in force. Details of
the order can be found on the Morrisons/McColl’s
merger inquiry page.
- The list of the 28 McColl’s stores can be found here.
