Case Background

When titans team up$,$ what impact does this have on internal and external stakeholders? Here, the titans are unlisted public company Chemist Warehouse and ASX listed public company Sigma Healthcare. Sigma has started the legal process seeking approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission $($ACCC$)$ to acquire the Chemist Warehouse business. The deal would merge Chemist Warehouse with Sigma Healthcare to create Australia$$s largest pharmacy company. Chemist Warehouse is one of the largest retail pharmacies in Australia, with over $500$ locations. Sigma Healthcare has a significant pharmaceutical wholesale, distribution, and retail presence, and owns a range of retail pharmacies including Discount Drug Stores, Amcal, and Guardian Pharmacy.

The Australian pharmacy sector is already heavily concentrated, and the proposed merger would both concentrate the ownership of several retailers and involve the integration of a major retailer and several wholesalers. As a result, the ACCC has expressed concerns that the merger will lessen competition.

Identify two market stakeholders and two societal stakeholders involved in the proposed merger between Sigma Healthcare and Chemist Warehouse. Discuss the interests and concerns of each identified stakeholder group. $($A total of four stakeholders should be identified$).$