(Adds Deliveroo and Amazon reaction)
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator
has given itself two more months to make a final ruling on
Amazon's purchase of a minority stake in online
delivery group Deliveroo so it can take full account of
representations from all interested parties.
Amazon led a $575 million fundraising in Deliveroo in May
last year making what the two parties called "a minority
investment" and pitching it against Uber Eats and Just
Eat Takeaway.com in the global race to dominate the
market for meal deliveries.
Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a
detailed investigation in December, saying the deal could damage
competition by discouraging Amazon from re-entering the online
restaurant food market and further developing its presence
within the online convenience grocery delivery market.
The CMA provisionally cleared the deal in April, saying it
had become clear that the coronavirus crisis was damaging
Deliveroo's revenues, given the closure of a large number of the
restaurants available through its platform during the lockdown.
It said Deliveroo could go out of business without Amazon's
investment.
That provisional clearance was criticised in submissions by
companies including Just Eat Takeaway and Dominos Pizza.
The regulator was due to make its final ruling by June 11
but has now extended the deadline to August 6.
"In taking this decision, the (CMA) had regard to the need
to take full account of representations received from the
parties and third parties in response to the provisional
findings and to reflect the impact of coronavirus ... in its
assessment," it said on Wednesday.
Deliveroo said it was disappointed by the delay.
"Deliveroo has repeatedly provided evidence to show that
Deliveroo and Amazon offer completely different services, will
remain distinct entities, and this investment will in fact
clearly strengthen competition," a spokeswoman said.
Amazon said it was committed to the Deliveroo investment.
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton and Jane
Merriman)