Competition Bureau tweaks CPS deal
The Canadian Competition Bureau has announced a consent agreement in Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc.’s proposed purchase of WendlandAg Services Ltd.’s six agri‑product retail stores in Saskatchewan, in which the agency is requiring some adjustments due to competition concerns. CPS is a unit of Agrium Inc.
CPS is proposing to buy substantially all the assets of Wendland associated with its six agri‑product retail stores in Saskatchewan located in Domremy, Rosthern, Waldheim, Blaine Lake, Delmas, and Cut Knife, as well as an administrative office in Saskatoon.
CPS and Wendland both operate retail stores in Saskatchewan that sell crop inputs to farmers including urea and anhydrous ammonia, as well as seeds, crop protection products, and other fertilizers.
Under the terms of the consent agreement, CPS must divest the Wendland agri‑product retail location in Rosthern, Sask. and CPS‑owned anhydrous ammonia tanks located in Leask and Hoey, Sask. CPS has also agreed to supply anhydrous ammonia to any purchaser of the divested assets for up to two years at prices not to exceed those charged to its retail outlets in Saskatchewan, at purchaser’s option.