Bureau welcomes input on Superior’s proposed acquisition of Canwest
News Release
April 24, 2017 – OTTAWA, ON – Competition Bureau
The Competition Bureau invites Canadian propane consumers to share their views on Superior Plus LP’s (Superior) proposed acquisition of Canwest Propane (Canwest), Gibson Energy Inc.’s (Gibson) retail propane business.
The Bureau recognizes that propane is extremely important to consumers, including those who rely on it for cooking, heating or other uses. Their input, which will inform the merger review process, can be provided through the online merger feedback form.
Information provided by suppliers, competitors, associations, experts and consumers will help the Bureau as it considers whether and how the proposed acquisition could affect competition. Issues under consideration also include defining relevant markets, market concentration, effective remaining competitors, and barriers to future entry or expansion by potential competitors.
The Bureau has not reached any conclusions regarding the proposed transaction. As part of its review, it is seeking information to help better understand the marketplace.
Quick Facts
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In February, Gibson announced it had reached an agreement with Superior to sell Canwest in a transaction worth $412 million. Canwest operates in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northern Ontario and parts of Northwest Territories.
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Obtaining customers’ views on a proposed transaction is part of the Bureau’s normal approach in examining a merger.
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Information provided to the Bureau in connection with its mandate will be protected as confidential with certain exceptions explained in the Bureau’s bulletin on Communication of Confidential Information Under the Competition Act.
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The goal of a merger review is to obtain the necessary information for careful analysis and consideration before reaching a conclusion as to whether a merger is likely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in a defined market.
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There is an efficiency exception in the Competition Act that involves an assessment of the trade-off between anti-competitive effects and efficiencies. In particular, where the efficiencies outweigh the anti-competitive effects, the Act provides that the merger cannot be blocked.
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