Summary

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (Sigma) proposed acquisition of JRH Biosciences, the cell culture division of CSL Limited.

Market definition

For the purposes of competition analysis the proposed acquisition was assessed on the basis of a national cell culture products market as well as narrower markets for serum, cell media and reagents.

Competition analysis

The Commission's concentration thresholds for coordinated market power are crossed in each of the relevant markets. However, the proposed acquisition appears unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets due to the limited overlap of the parties' activities, the small increase in the merged entity's market share as a result of the proposed acquisition and the strong constraint which will be imposed on merged entity by the existence of two large competitors and a number of small players.

Merger type

Horizontal

Initiation

Parties