Sonic Healthcare Limited
(ASX:SHL) has received approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to purchase the Healthscope pathology business in Western Australia for $18 million.
However the ACCC advised Sonic it won’t approve its acquisition of Healthscope’s Queensland pathology business due to its potential for lessening local competition.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims says that while Sonic is a clear market leader in Queensland, Healthscope is an important competitor in that market.
The sale of the Western Australia business is expected to be completed later this month.
The medical services provider last month abandoned its pursuit of Healthscopes NSW and ACT businesses due to time delays.
Sonic achieved a net profit of $317.6 million for fiscal 2012.
