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Sainsbury's-Asda merger blocked by regulator Sainsbury's-Asda merger blocked by regulator
(32 minutes later)
The proposed merger between Sainsbury's and Asda has been blocked by the UK's competition watchdog. The proposed merger between Sainsbury's and Asda has been blocked by the UK's competition watchdog over fears it would raise prices for consumers.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would raise prices for consumers and worsen the experience of millions of shoppers. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also said it would raise prices at the supermarkets' petrol stations and lead to longer checkout queues.
Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe said the regulator was "effectively taking £1bn out of customers' pockets".Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe said the regulator was "effectively taking £1bn out of customers' pockets".
But he said the supermarket would not appeal against the decision. But he said the supermarkets would not appeal against the decision.
"The CMA's conclusion that we would increase prices post-merger ignores the dynamic and highly competitive nature of the UK grocery market," Mr Coupe said."The CMA's conclusion that we would increase prices post-merger ignores the dynamic and highly competitive nature of the UK grocery market," Mr Coupe said.
Why did the supermarkets want to merge?Why did the supermarkets want to merge?
The deal would have created the UK's biggest supermarket chain, accounting for £1 in every £3 spent on groceries.The deal would have created the UK's biggest supermarket chain, accounting for £1 in every £3 spent on groceries.
Sainsbury's and Asda had said it would have cut their costs, allowing them to lower prices for consumers across the UK. Sainsbury's and Asda had said the planned tie-up would have cut their costs, allowing them to lower prices for consumers across the UK.
Analysts also believed it was designed to help the two supermarkets counter the rise of discounters Aldi and Lidl in the increasingly competitive grocery market.
Why was the CMA concerned?
But the CMA, which had previously raised concerns about the deal, said the merger would lessen competition at both a national and local level.But the CMA, which had previously raised concerns about the deal, said the merger would lessen competition at both a national and local level.
Sainsbury's has more than 1,400 shops in the UK, of which about 800 are convenience stores, while Asda has more than 600.
Stuart McIntosh, chair of the CMA's inquiry group, told the BBC's Today programme: "It would reduce competition in supermarkets and online grocery shopping and at the companies' petrol stations.Stuart McIntosh, chair of the CMA's inquiry group, told the BBC's Today programme: "It would reduce competition in supermarkets and online grocery shopping and at the companies' petrol stations.
"We think that is likely to lead to higher prices or other changes which would be unwelcome to shoppers, such as longer check out queues." "We think that is likely to lead to higher prices or other changes which would be unwelcome to shoppers, such as longer checkout queues."
What concessions had the supermarkets offered?What concessions had the supermarkets offered?
Earlier this year Sainsbury's and Asda, which is owned by US retail giant Walmart, promised to sell between 125 and 150 of their supermarkets to allow the merger to proceed, along with some petrol stations and convenience stores. Earlier this year, Sainsbury's and Asda, which is owned by US retail giant Walmart, promised to sell between 125 and 150 of their supermarkets to allow the merger to proceed, along with some petrol stations and convenience stores.
They also pledged to bring in £1bn of price cuts for consumers if the deal went ahead, and be held to this by an independent guarantor.They also pledged to bring in £1bn of price cuts for consumers if the deal went ahead, and be held to this by an independent guarantor.
Sainsbury's said the CMA had ignored this offer, and misunderstood the potential impact on competition.Sainsbury's said the CMA had ignored this offer, and misunderstood the potential impact on competition.
But the CMA said it had conducted surveys of 50,000 of the supermarkets' customers.But the CMA said it had conducted surveys of 50,000 of the supermarkets' customers.
"Those promises were based on cost savings which we don't think are likely to be realised. Also those price promises are very likely to be difficult to track in practice," Mr McIntosh said."Those promises were based on cost savings which we don't think are likely to be realised. Also those price promises are very likely to be difficult to track in practice," Mr McIntosh said.
What have others said?
Catherine Shuttleworth, head of retail analysts Savvy, said that the CMA's claims about the difficulty of tracking prices were "completely unbelievable".
"The more we hear from the CMA the more we should be concerned that they are not working in the best interests of consumers and clearly do not understand the market dynamics of the UK grocery sector."
But Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets.com, said promises of lower prices after the merger were "absurdly disingenuous".
"The real worry for Sainsbury's is what now? Sainsbury's is the squeezed middle, losing market share to discounters and simultaneously losing out to more premium brands.
"While Aldi and Lidl consistently gain market share and Tesco rebounds, Sainsbury's is feeling the pinch. The worry is that it had no credible plan except this merger."