Mergers

ACCC will not oppose PMP-IPMG merger

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose the merger of printers PMP (ASX: PMP) and IPMG.

PMP and IPMG are both suppliers of heatset web offset printing services, which are used to print magazines and advertising catalogues.

“This was a finely balanced decision. While the ACCC considers that the merger is likely to lessen competition, we do not believe that it reaches the threshold of being a substantial lessening of competition,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

ACCC will not oppose Ruralco’s proposed acquisition of TP Jones

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced that it will not oppose the proposed acquisition of TP Jones Pty Ltd by Roberts Limited, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ruralco Holdings Limited (ASX: RHL).

Roberts and TP Jones are both rural merchandise retailers based in Tasmania and sell products such as fertiliser, agricultural chemicals, animal health products, and farm merchandise.

ACCC releases Statement of Issues on PMP-IPMG print merger

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released a Statement of Issues expressing initial concerns about the proposed merger between print businesses PMP (ASX:PMP) and IPMG.

The ACCC’s preliminary view is that the merger may substantially lessen competition in the supply of heatset web offset printing, the main method for printing catalogues and magazines.

The ACCC also notes recent consolidation in the sector such as the recent acquisition of Franklin and AIW, which has made IVE a larger competitor.

ACCC will not oppose ChemChina’s proposed acquisition of Syngenta

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose the proposed acquisition by China National Chemical Corporation’s (ChemChina) of Syngenta AG (Syngenta).

ChemChina owns Adama Agricultural Solutions Limited (Adama). In Australia, Adama and Syngenta supply crop protection products such as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

ACCC will not oppose Qube acquisition of AAT

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has accepted court-enforceable undertakings that will allow the proposed acquisition by Qube Holdings Limited (Qube) (ASX: QUB) of the remaining 50 per cent of Australian Amalgamated Terminals Pty Ltd (AAT).

Qube already owns 50 per cent of AAT and is acquiring the further stake from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (Brookfield) and a group of global investment funds.

ACCC releases statement of issues on proposed merger of Dow and DuPont

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a Statement of Issues on the proposed merger of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and E.l. Du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont).

“The ACCC is concerned about the effect that the proposed merger may have on competition for a diverse range of products, including insecticides, seeds, and materials science products,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

ACCC will not oppose Tabcorp’s proposed acquisition of Intecq

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose Tabcorp Holdings Limited’s (ASX:TAH) proposed acquisition of Intecq Limited (ASX:ITQ).

The ACCC review focussed on the supply of gaming and promotional management systems to gaming venues in both Victoria and New South Wales.

“Our inquiries with industry participants suggested that Tabcorp and Intecq are not currently close competitors for the supply of gaming and promotional management systems,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

ACCC Chairman discusses the increasing concentration in Australia’s economy

Correction: a previous version of this media release read: '...the revenue of Australia’s largest 100 listed companies increased from 15% of GDP in 1993 to 47% of GDP in 2015.'

This has been updated to '...the revenue of Australia’s largest 100 listed companies increased from 27% of GDP in 1993 to 47% of GDP in 2015.'

Figure 1 below has been corrected. Figure 3 has also been corrected in the speech link below.