The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has started a review into the proposed acquisition of Beaumont Tiles, the nation’s biggest tile retailer, by hardware giant Bunnings, and wants outside parties to make submissions on whether it might curb competition.

Bunnings, owned by ASX-listed Wesfarmers, announced the acquisition on April 28 and managing director Mike Schneider pledged to run Beaumont Tiles as a stand-alone operation. There are 115 Beaumont Tiles outlets nationwide. The ACCC said it would make a ruling on the acquisition on August 5.