The ACCC has announced it is investigating acquisitions by Innovation Holdings Australia Pty Ltd that would give it around 35% of shares in iSelect Limited.

ACCC: “This report provides an in-depth focus on online private messaging services in Australia.“

Following the publication of the ACCC’s Statement of Issues in respect of Alsco’s proposed acquisition of Spotless Garments, Alsco has withdrawn its bid for Spotless Garments.

The ACCC has made its first class exemption relating to collective bargaining by small business.

The AFR reports that Sims will press the federal government for tougher merger laws, including changes to shop big banks buying emerging fintechs. Specific proposals are expected in 2021.

ACCC Chair, Rod Sims, has spoken to the National Press Club on ‘Tackling Market Power in the Covid-19 Era’.

The ACCC has granted authorisation to enable several Councils in Queensland to jointly procure recyclables processing services for three years, after finding that the proposed conduct would produce some public benefits and little (if any) public detriment.

The ACCC has commenced civil cartel proceedings against overhead crane company, NQCranes.

The ACCC will not oppose Danfoss’s proposed acquisition of Eaton’s hydraulic’s business, finding that post-acquisition they would continue to face strong competition.

Rod Sims, Competition issues in infrastructure and changes since COVID-19 (speech)

The ACCC has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court alleging B&K Holdings (Qld) Pty Ltd (t/a FE Sports) ‘engaged in resale price maintenance for the wholesale supply of cycling and sporting products in Australia’ by providing dealer agreements containing terms prohibiting advertising or promoting certain products at less than the RRP.

The ACCC has issued a determination granting authorisation to Darebin City Council’s amended authorisation which allows certain Victorian local councils to pool their electricity demand and place a single tender for retail electricity services and renewable energy certificates.

The ACCC has published a Statement of Issues outlining preliminary concerns over Alsco Pty Ltd’s proposed acquisition of Spotless Laundries’ garment laundering business.

The ACCC has released drafted determinations proposing to exempt services provided by Viterra at two Port Adelaide facilities from parts of the Port Terminal Access (Bulk Wheat) Code

The ACCC considers the likely benefit from HP’s RPM conduct will outweigh the likely detriment and has allowed the RPM notification to stand.

The ACCC has commenced an informal review of the proposed merger between Aon and Willis Towers Watson, currently the second and third largest insurance brokers in the world.

The ACCC has granted conditional authorisation to the Australian New Zealand Industrial Gas Association for it, its members, related bodies corporate and other suppliers of medical oxygen to hospitals to allow them to ‘exchange information and make and give effect to contracts, arrangements and understandings to ensure security of supply of medical oxygen to hospitals and similar medical facilities during the COVID‑19 pandemic‘.

The ACCC has commenced an informal review of Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of a 65% shareholding in PFD Food Services, a privately owned wholesale food distribution business supplying and delivering fresh, frozen and dried goods throughout Victoria.

The ACCC has received an advocacy award from the ICN and World Bank group for its work t improve competition in the Australian dairy industry.

ACCC: “The Australian Competition Tribunal has granted authorisation for a new consumer code for retailers of ‘new energy tech’ products, varying the conditions from those previously imposed by the ACCC in relation to “buy now pay later” (BNPL) finance providers.”