CMA case J Sainsbury PLC / Asda Group Ltd merger inquiry: Sainsbury's / Asda
The United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority blocked Sainsbury's's merger with Asda on 25 April 2019 (case J Sainsbury PLC / Asda Group Ltd merger inquiry).[1]
The Competition and Markets Authority blocked the merger of Sainsbury's and Asda in April 2019, finding it would raise prices and reduce quality across hundreds of local areas and at national level. The parties had offered to sell stores; the Authority concluded no realistic divestiture could resolve the harm, and prohibited the deal outright.
Sainsbury's and Asda agreed to merge in 2018, which would have created the largest supermarket group in Britain ahead of Tesco. The Competition and Markets Authority prohibited it in April 2019 and the parties abandoned the transaction.