The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun market inquiries into the proposed acquisition of Origin Energy Ltd's gas infrastructure assets by Alinta Ltd, ACCC Acting Chair, Ms Louise Sylvan, said.
Origin's gas infrastructure assets include a 17 per cent interest in Envestra, 33.3 per cent of the SEA Gas pipeline, Origin's asset management business, and also other gas transmission and distribution assets.
Alinta has also indicated that it may potentially seek to acquire up to 100 per cent of Envestra.
The ACCC will assess the proposed acquisition under section 50 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in accordance with its informal merger review process guidelines, and invites comment from other participants in the energy industry and related industries.
For information on the main issues that the ACCC will be addressing, industry participants should consult the ACCC's website, and follow the Public Registers link to the ACCC's mergers and acquisitions register. Written submissions should at this stage be provided to the ACCC by 10am on 29 January 2007. Submissions can be sent by email to the ACCC at mergers@accc.gov.au.