The Competition Bureau announced today that it has reached an agreement with Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and Blair's Family of Companies related to their proposed joint venture. The agreement will preserve competition for the sale of crop inputs in the area of Lipton, Saskatchewan.
The Bureau concluded that the proposed transaction would likely substantially lessen competition in the retailing of crop inputs (such as fertilizer, crop protection products and seeds), resulting in higher prices and lower service quality for local growers.
To resolve the Bureau's concerns, FCL and Blair's will sell Blair's retail location in Lipton, as well as two nearby anhydrous ammonia facilities to a buyer acceptable to the Commissioner of Competition.
The Commissioner is satisfied that this agreement addresses the competitive issues arising from the proposed transaction.
