The ACCC has raised preliminary concerns about Assa Abloy’s proposed acquisition of E Plus Building Products Pty Ltd.

On 5 November 2019 the ACCC launched an informal review of Bunnings Group Ltd’s proposed acquisition of Adelaide Tools and Oaklands Mower Centre.

The ACCC has authorised Virgin Australia's cooperation with Virgin Atlantic in relation to certain flights.

Dr Katharine Kemp has delivered the latest CLEN Discussion Group seminar, presenting her research on 'Concealed Data Practices and Competition Law: Why Privacy Matters'.

A new category has been added for the Concurrences Antitrust Writing Awards 2020: Best Student Paper.

Magistrate Megan Greenwood will allow bankers accused of cartel conduct to question JPMorgan executives (immunity applicants) about how evidence was collected and how immunity was negotiated in case alleging cartel conduct by ANZ, Citi and Deutsche:

The ACCC will not oppose Propel Funerals’ proposed acquisition of Gregson & Weight.

The ACCC determined that the acquisition would be unlikely to substantially reduce competition in the supply of funeral director services in the Sunshine Coast region.

AFR reports that the ACCC is in ‘advanced stages of preparing evidence to launch legal action related to the demise of former mobile advertising technology high-flyer Unlockd’, alleging misuse of market power under s 46 of the Act.

The ACCC has instituted Federal Court proceedings alleging Google LLC and Google Australia Pty Ltd misled consumers about the collection and use of personal location data.

National heating product distributor, Bromic, has admitted engaging in resale price maintenance by introducing a minimum advertised pricing policy.

The ACCC has released its 2018-2019 annual report - all 330 pages!

It has also released an associated ‘Effectiveness survey report” (only 75 pages …)

View ACCC & AER annual report 2018-2019

The 10th Annual Baxt lecturer was held on Tuesday 15 October 2019

The keynote speaker was Prof Christopher Yoo, speaking on ‘Competition Law and “Big Data”: what Does it Mean for Data to Be “Big”?’ This was followed by a panel discussion on the consumer data right.

ACCC Chair, Rod Sims, has defended the ACCC’s proposal to amend the merger provision in the Competition and Consumer Act to require certain additional factors to be taken into account when assessing the likely competitive impact of mergers.

The CDPP has laid charges against a former general manager at BlueScope Steel, alleging he incited ‘the obstruction of a Commonwealth official in the performance of their functions’ relating to an ACCC investigation into alleged cartel conduct.

The trial in the Vodafone/TPG merger case has concluded and judgment reserved. A decision is not expected until at least February 2020.

Commencing 1 October 2019 the ACCC immunity and cooperation policy for cartel conduct sets out the ACCC's approach to immunity applications and how cooperation will be recognised.

See ACCC immunity & cooperation policy for cartel conduct - October 2019.

ACCC Chairman, Rod Sims, has addressed the Australasian Transport Research Forum today, speaking on a range of subject issues.

See ACCC, 'The dangers of monopolists without constraint' (Media release, 30 September 2019) and Rod Sims, 'ACCC perspectives on transport issues' (address at the Australasian Transport Research Forum, 30 September 2019).

The ACCC 'will not oppose the proposed acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks' Tasmanian-based cheese business by Saputo Dairy Australia', finding that on balance it will not be likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition.

'The ACCC has raised preliminary competition concerns about the proposed sale of the Tasmanian forestry assets of Resource Management Service LLC'. It is reviewing two prospective buyers of the RMS assets. Its concern is that the acquisitions could 'impact the viability of competing export channels for hardwood plantation chips in northern Tasmania, which could lower prices paid to private growers of plantation logs'.

It has been reported that the ACCC is pushing for a criminal prosecution against BlueScope and former senior representatives in relation to alleged cartel conduct, with the CDPP considering a brief of evidence to decide whether to prosecute; a decision is anticipated by the end of October.