Russel’s buy of Samuel locations faces regulatory hurdle

However, Canada’s Competition Bureau is now looking into the transaction as it “has concerns related to a narrow segment of product in a specific geography,” Russel said this week.

As such, the closing is not expected to close by the end of the current quarter. A new expected closing date was not provided.

“Russel Metals and Samuel continue to engage constructively with the Competition Bureau in an effort to bring this matter to a resolution,” Russel said.

Oakville, Ontario-based Samuel did not respond to a request for comment.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency of the Canadian government meant to promote and protect competition for the benefit of Canadians. It has the authority to review any merger to determine if it stifles competition in the Canadian marketplace.