9710081 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In the Matter of GUINNESS PLC, a corporation, GRAND METROPOLITAN PLC, a corporation, and DIAGEO PLC, a corporation. Docket No. C-3801 COMPLAINT Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Act, and by virtue of the authority vested in it by said Acts, the Federal Trade Commission, having reason to believe that Guinness plc ("Guinness") and Grand Metropolitan plc ("Grand Met") have entered into an agreement in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 45, and that the terms of such agreement, were they to be satisfied, would result in a violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18, and Guinness and Grand Met, having also merged into a successor corporation known as Diageo plc ("Diageo"), and it appearing to the Commission that a proceeding in respect thereof would be in the public interest, hereby issues its complaint, stating its charges as follows: I. RESPONDENT GUINNESS PLC 1. Respondent Guinness was, until on or about December 17, 1997, a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the United Kingdom with its office and principal place of business located at 39 Portman Square, London, England W1H 0EE. 2. Among other things, Respondent Guinness, through United Distillers, a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation, produced and sold Scotch from distilleries located in Scotland and gin from distilleries located in England. 3. Respondent Guinness had total sales, for all products, of about $8 billion in 1996. Respondent Guinness’ United States sales of all products totaled about $645 million in 1996. 4. Respondent Guinness was, and at all times relevant herein has been, engaged in the sale and distribution of distilled spirits, including "premium Scotch" and "premium gin," in the United States. Respondent Guinness’ premium Scotch brands in the United States were Johnnie Walker Red and Dewar’s White Label. Respondent Guinness’ premium gin brands in the United States were Tanqueray gin and Tanqueray Malacca gin. 5. Respondent Guinness was, and at all times relevant herein has been, engaged in commerce, or in activities affecting commerce, within the meaning of Section 1 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 12, and Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44. II. RESPONDENT GRAND MET 6. Respondent Grand Met was, until on or about December 17, 1997, a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the United Kingdom with its office and principal place of business located at 8 Henrietta Place, London, England W1M 9AG. 7. Among other things, Respondent Grand Met, through International Distillers and Vintners, a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation, produced and sold Scotch from distilleries located in Scotland and gin from distilleries located in England. 8. Respondent Grand Met had total sales, for all products, of about $14 billion in 1996. Respondent Grand Met’s United States sales of all products totaled about $8 billion in 1996. 9. Respondent Grand Met was, and at all times relevant herein has been, engaged in the sale and distribution of distilled spirits, including "premium Scotch" and "premium gin," in the United States. Respondent Grand Met’s premium Scotch brands in the United States included J&B Rare, J&B Select, and The Famous Grouse. Respondent Grand Met’s premium gin brands in the United States were Bombay Original and Bombay Sapphire. 10. Respondent Grand Met was, and at all times relevant herein has been, engaged in commerce, or in activities affecting commerce, within the meaning of Section 1 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 12, and Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44. II. RESPONDENT DIAGEO 11. Respondent Diageo is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the United Kingdom with its office and principal place of business located at 8 Henrietta Place, London, England W1M 9AG. 12. Respondent Diageo is the successor corporation to Respondents Guinness and Grand Met. 13. Respondent Diageo is, and at all times relevant herein has been, engaged in commerce, or in activities affecting commerce, within the meaning of Section 1 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 12, and Section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 44. III. THE MERGER 14. On or about May 11, 1997, Respondents Guinness and Grand Met executed an agreement to merge their two companies. The value of the merger, measured by the aggregate market capitalization, was approximately $36 billion. 15. On or about December 17, 1997, Respondents Guinness and Grand Met merged their two corporations, creating Respondent Diageo. IV. TRADE AND COMMERCE A. Relevant Product Markets 16. Relevant product markets in which it is appropriate to assess the effects of the proposed merger include (a) premium Scotch and (b) premium gin. Product markets broader than premium Scotch and premium gin may also exist. Total United States sales for premium Scotch are about 3.2 million 9-liter case equivalents, which represents over $600 million in retail sales. Total United States sales of all premium gin is about 2.2 million 9-liter case equivalents, which represents over $400 million in retail sales. 17. Premium Scotch is blended Scotch whisky that is made and bottled in Scotland, generally advertised, promoted, and available throughout the United States, and sold at retail at prices comparable to the prices of the Johnnie Walker Red, Dewar’s White Label, and J&B Rare brands. 18. Premium gin is gin that is made and bottled in England, generally advertised, promoted, and available throughout the United States, and sold at retail at prices comparable to the prices of Tanqueray, Bombay Original, and Bombay Sapphire brands. B. Relevant Geographic Markets 19. The relevant geographic market in which it is appropriate to assess the effects of the proposed merger is the United States. C. Conditions of Entry 20. Entry into the relevant markets would not be timely, likely, or sufficient to prevent anticompetitive effects. V. MARKET STRUCTURE 21. The relevant markets are highly concentrated, whether measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (or “HHI”) or by two-firm and four-firm concentration ratios. The proposed merger, if consummated, will substantially increase that concentration. 22. In the premium Scotch product market, Respondent Guinness was the largest competitor in the United States with about a 68% share and Respondent Grand Met was the second largest, with about a 24% share. Together, they would control approximately 92% of all United States premium Scotch sales. The proposed merger would increase the HHI by over 3000 points and produce an industry concentration of over 8000 points. 23. In the premium gin market, Respondent Guinness was the largest competitor in the United States with about a 58% share and Respondent Grand Met was the third largest, with about a 15% share. Together, they would control approximately 73% of all United States premium gin sales. The proposed merger would increase the HHI by over 1700 points and produce an industry concentration of over 6000 points. VI. EFFECTS OF THE MERGER 24. The merger may substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets in the following ways, among others:
VII. VIOLATIONS CHARGED 25. The agreement entered into between Respondents Guinness and Grand Met for their merger constitutes a violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 45. Further, the already consummated merger of Guinness and Grand Met is a violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18. WHEREFORE, THE PREMISES CONSIDERED, the Federal Trade Commission on this seventeenth day of April, 1998, issues its Complaint against Respondents Guinness, Grand Met, and Diageo. By the Commission. Donald S. Clark SEAL: |