The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has decided not to oppose the proposed acquisition of online retailer Catch Group by Wesfarmers.
Wesfarmers—through its Kmart and Target stores—and Catch both retail a variety of products to consumers, ranging from clothing and general merchandise to homewares and electronics.
Catch offers out-of-season, clearance, or overrun branded products, as well as operating a growing online marketplace through which third-party sellers supply products.
The ACCC’s review of the proposed acquisition examined both physical and online retail competition, as well as whether there would be any potential impact on third-party marketplace sellers.
“We reviewed whether Wesfarmers’ retail position could be leveraged into online sales and marketplaces in an anti-competitive way,” ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said.
Full Content: ACCC
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