Woolworths faces harder road in API tilt

Simon Evans and Carrie LaFrenz

Updated Dec 3, 2021 – 5.15pm, first published at 12.31pm

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Already a subscriber?

Analysts say supermarket giant Woolworths has a harder road to travel than rival bidder Wesfarmers to win over the competition regulator and the powerful Pharmacy Guild in its proposed takeover of Priceline Pharmacy chain owner Australian Pharmaceutical Industries.

UBS analyst Shaun Cousins said while Woolworths might eventually gain approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, “it will take time and there was greater ACCC risk” for Woolworths than Wesfarmers.

Simon Evans writes on business specialising in retail, manufacturing, beverages, mining and M&A. He is based in Adelaide.

Carrie LaFrenz is a senior journalist covering retail/consumer goods. She previously covered healthcare/biotech. Carrie has won multiple awards for her journalism including financial journalist of the year from The National Press Club.