Bureau Won’t Attack Merger of Lab Services Firms

OTTAWA—The Competition Bureau on March 15 decided that it will not challenge the proposed acquisition by Toronto-based LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services, of Surrey, British Columbia-based B.C. Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. on the basis that the regulatory framework for laboratory services in British Columbia will mitigate any potential anticompetitive effects.

The bureau confirmed to the parties in a Feb. 26, 2013, no action letter that, at this time, it will not apply to the Competition Tribunal under §92 of the Competition Act to challenge the proposed merger, announced on Jan. 15.

In a statement, the bureau “concluded that the merger would not ...