Feb 23 (Reuters) - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
* issued a statement of issues on proposed acquisition by South32 of Metropolitan Collieries
* concerned that proposed acquisition may substantially lessen competition in supply of coking coal to Australian steelmakers
* preliminary view is that coal suppliers outside illawarra region may not act as a strong competitive constraint on south32
* Local competition between south32 and metropolitan to supply the australian steelmakers is important in determining the prices paid by australian steelmakers
* South32 would become Illawarra's only supplier of large volumes of coking coal in medium term Source text for Eikon: ID:nASX6RTrMc Further company coverage: S32.AX