Woolies deals in ACCC merger queue

By James Atkinson

A new proposal by ALH Group to open a liquor outlet has gone before Australia's competition watchdog, which is still deliberating over the Woolworths-owned company's planned acquisition of pubs owned by the Laundy, Waugh, De Angelis and Bayfield groups.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last week confirmed it would review ALH's proposal to open a new BWS outlet in Ayr, far north Queensland.

ALH already operates two BWS outlets in Ayr. The new outlet is proposed to be opened next to a recently refurbished Woolworths supermarket.

The ACCC has invited comment from market participants on the effect of Woolworths owning three takeaway liquor stores in the Ayr retail market.

Meanwhile, the ACCC has postponed its decision on ALH's planned acquisition of 31 NSW hotels and one bottle shop from interests involved with the Laundy, Waugh and De Angelis Groups.

The decision was due on April 5 but the watchdog has requested further information from the parties.

Also before the ACCC is the estimated $45 million acquisition by ALH of Sydney's Caringbah Inn from the Bayfield Hotel Group. The regulator has proposed the date of May 17 to announce its findings.

And Woolworths has still not yet received the go-ahead for its acquisition of the Black Stallion Hotel Drive-Thru Bottleshop in Rocherlea, Tasmania.

After delaying the proposed decision date of March 8, the ACCC this month requested that the retailer provide further information on the Tasmanian deal.