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☆ Australia's ANZ Group and Suncorp seek review of $3.2 bln deal block
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A pedestrian is reflected in the window of a branch of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) in central Sydney, Australia, October 25, 2017. REUTERS/Steven Saphore/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 25 (Reuters) - ANZ Group (ANZ.AX) and Suncorp Group (SUN.AX) said on Friday that they have filed separate applications to seek a tribunal review after Australia's competition regulator recently blocked ANZ's $3.2 billion buyout of Suncorp's banking arm. read moreBoth companies reaffirmed their mid-2024 target to execute the deal after the application to the Australian Competition Tribunal, an independent body that reviews ACCC decisions. ACCC acknowledged the companies' move, but declined to comment further. Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Steven Saphore, John Biju, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: New Zealand Banking Group, ANZ, REUTERS, Suncorp Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian Competition Tribunal, ACCC, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's ANZ Group and Suncorp seek review of $3.2 billion deal block
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Newmont gets Aussie regulatory nod for $16.8 bln Newcrest deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO-A small toy figure and gold imitation are seen in front of the Newmont logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. If the deal goes through, Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont share for each share held, with an implied value of A$29.27 a share. Newcrest in mid-May said it would back the takeover offer in what would be the third-largest deal ever involving an Australian company. Newmont continues advancing other regulatory approvals and expects to close the transaction in the fourth quarter of this year, it said. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Newcrest did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Newmont, Newcrest, Harish Sridharan, Shailesh Organizations: REUTERS, Newmont Corp, Newcrest, Foreign Investment, Board, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Thomson Locations: Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Telstra shelves InfraCo stake sale plan, shares down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Poonam Behura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The country's largest telecoms firm decided against selling a stake in InfraCo Fixed, saying the unit "plays an important role" in achieving its long-term goals. InfraCo Fixed posted a 4.1% rise in annual income to A$2.56 billion ($1.64 billion), contributing 11% to Telstra's total income of A$23.25 billion. Telstra is targeting net cost reductions of A$500 million and mid-single digit underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) growth through to FY25. It expects underlying EBITDA between A$8.2 billion and A$8.4 billion for fiscal 2024, higher than A$7.86 billion in the previous year. We remain absolutely committed to delivering our FY25 underlying EBITDA and EPS growth ambitions," Brady said.

Persons: David Gray, Henry Jennings, Vicki Brady, Brady, Poonam Behura, Anil D'Silva, Subhranshu Organizations: Telstra, REUTERS, Australia's Telstra, InfraCo, Marcustoday, TPG Telecom, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australian court fines Dell unit $6.5 mln for misleading customers on discounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Navya Mittal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Dell logo is seen on an item for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 24, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew KellyAug 14 (Reuters) - Australia's Federal Court on Monday ordered Dell Technologies Inc's (DELL.N) local unit to pay A$10 million ($6.46 million) in penalties for making misleading representations on its website about discounts for add-on computer monitors. In a legal action brought by the country's competition regulator, Dell Australia was found guilty by the Federal Court in June to have misled customers about the prices or discounts on add-on monitors on its website. "This outcome sends a strong message to businesses that making false representations about prices or inflating discounts is a serious breach of consumer law and will attract substantial penalties," said Liza Carver, commissioner of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. ($1 = 1.5480 Australian dollars)Reporting by Navya Mittal in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Liza Carver, Navya Mittal, Rashmi Aich, Subhranshu Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Dell Technologies, Dell, Federal Court, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Dell Australia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Dell Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australian court fines Dell unit $6.5 million for misleading customers on discounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Dell Technologies flag outside the company headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, US, on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Australia's Federal Court on Monday ordered Dell Technologies local unit to pay $10 million Australian dollars ($6.46 million) in penalties for making misleading representations on its website about discounts for add-on computer monitors. In a legal action brought by the country's competition regulator, Dell Australia was found guilty by the Federal Court in June to have misled customers about the prices or discounts on add-on monitors on its website. "This outcome sends a strong message to businesses that making false representations about prices or inflating discounts is a serious breach of consumer law and will attract substantial penalties," said Liza Carver, commissioner of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Dell Australia, which sold more than 5,300 add-on monitors with overstated discounts between Aug. 2019 and Dec. 16, 2021, will be working "with impacted customers to provide appropriate refunds plus interest and are taking steps to improve our pricing processes to ensure this sort of error does not happen again," a spokesperson for Dell Australia said in a statement to Reuters.

Persons: Liza Carver Organizations: Dell Technologies, Monday, Dell, Federal Court, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Dell Australia Locations: Round Rock , Texas, Australia's, Dell Australia

☆ Aussie telecom firms Telstra, TPG will not appeal block of asset transfer deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/David Gray/Aug 14 (Reuters) - Australian telecom firms Telstra Group (TLS.AX) and TPG Telecom (TPG.AX) on Monday said separately they would not appeal the country's competition tribunal's decision to block an asset transfer deal between the two telecom giants. In June, the Australian Competition Tribunal upheld the competition regulator's decision to block the deal between the telecom firms, under which Telstra would have bought spectrum and transmission towers from TPG, while TPG would have kept selling 4G and 5G coverage using Telstra infrastructure. The country's competition regulator had ruled against the asset transfer deal in December citing competition concerns and potentially impacting the no. Telstra did not provide any details about its decision to not appeal the tribunal's decision in the exchange filing, and did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for further details. TPG Telecom, which also did not provide any reason, said it would "continue to explore commercial options to expand its mobile network".

Persons: David Gray, Sameer Manekar, Diane Craft Organizations: Telstra, REUTERS, Australian, Telstra Group, TPG Telecom, TPG, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

The logo of the ANZ Bank is seen at Lambton Quay, in Wellington, New Zealand November 10, 2022. "A substantial lessening of competition in home loans would have major flow-on impacts to Australians with a mortgage," he added. The companies said they would seek a review of the determination at the Australian Competition Tribunal, an offshoot of the federal court which oversees takeover rulings. Taking the deal to the competition tribunal would delay its completion to mid-2024, if the tribunal approved it, from the late 2023 timeline the companies gave when they announced it a year ago. The ANZ-Suncorp deal also needs sign-off from Treasurer Jim Chalmers who declined to comment.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Mick Keogh, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Jim Chalmers, Byron Kaye, Himanshi, Stephen Coates Organizations: ANZ Bank, REUTERS, ANZ, Suncorp, ANZ Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australian Competition Tribunal, Citi, Telstra, TPG Telcom, Thomson Locations: Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Australian competition regulator rejects $3.2 bln ANZ-Suncorp Bank deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Lucy CraymerAug 4 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator said on Friday it had denied authorisation for ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ.AX) to proceed with its proposed A$4.9 billion ($3.21 billion) acquisition of Suncorp Group's banking arm. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it was not satisfied that the acquisition would not lessen competition in the supply of home loans to Australian customers. "Evidence we obtained strongly indicates that the major banks consider the second-tier banks to be a competitive threat," ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said in a statement. Keogh said the proposed acquisition would further "entrench an oligopoly" structure, with the country's four major banks dominating. "We believe the acquisition will improve competition, which will benefit Australian consumers, particularly in Queensland," ANZ said in a statement, noting that the ACCC's decision can be reviewed by the independent Australian Competition Tribunal.

Persons: Lucy Craymer, Mick Keogh, Keogh, Himanshi, Shri Navaratnam, Subhranshu Organizations: ANZ Bank, REUTERS, ANZ Group Holdings, Suncorp, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ANZ, Australian Competition Tribunal, Thomson Locations: Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Melbourne, Queensland, Bengaluru

☆ Australia fines Facebook owner Meta $14 mln for undisclosed data collection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 26 (Reuters) - An Australian court ordered Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O) to pay fines totalling A$20 million ($14 million) for collecting user data through a smartphone application advertised as a way to protect privacy without disclosing its actions. Australia's Federal Court also ordered Meta, through its subsidiaries Facebook Israel and the now-discontinued app, Onavo, to pay A$400,000 in legal costs to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which brought the civil lawsuit. Meta still faces a civil court action by Australia's Office of the Information Commissioner over its dealings with Cambridge Analytica in Australia. However, Facebook used Onavo to collect users' location, time and frequency using other smartphone apps, and websites they visited for its own advertising purposes, the judge Wendy Abraham said in a written judgment. ($1 = 1.4736 Australian dollars)Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Meta, Wendy Abraham, Abraham, Byron Kaye, Tom Hogue Organizations: SYDNEY, Meta, Facebook Israel, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Cambridge, Australia's Office, Cambridge Analytica, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Australia, Lincoln

☆ Australia court fines Facebook owner Meta $14 mln for undisclosed data collection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Byron Kaye, Tom Hogue Organizations: SYDNEY, Meta, Facebook Israel, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Thomson

☆ Aussie competition regulator delays decision on ANZ's $3.3 bln Suncorp Bank buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 24 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator on Monday said it has delayed its decision on ANZ Group Holdings' (ANZ.AX) proposed A$4.9 billion ($3.30 billion) acquisition of Suncorp Bank (SUN.AX) by a week to August 4, and has requested a further extension of one week. "It is important that the ACCC has the opportunity to meaningfully consider the new information provided by ANZ and take it into account in its decision making," the regulator said. ANZ, the country's fourth-largest bank, in its response on Friday consented to an extension till August 4. This is the second time the regulator has sought an extension to its decision after the original deadline of mid-June was extended to late July. ($1 = 1.4865 Australian dollars)Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sameer Manekar, Varun Organizations: ANZ Group Holdings, Suncorp Bank, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ANZ, ACCC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Australia's competition watchdog puts data brokers on radar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoJuly 10 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog on Monday asked consumers, businesses and other relevant stakeholders to provide their views about the business practices of data brokers in an attempt to regulate the country's digital platform services sector. Data brokers generally gather information like personal details of customers including their browsing and purchasing behaviour from a wide range of sources such as mobile applications, social media sites and card payment providers. The report will explore how third-party data brokers collect and use information to create products and services and if there may be competition and consumer issues arising from this, the ACCC said in a statement. The regulator's digital platforms branch has been conducting a five-year inquiry till 2025 to inquire into the markets for the supply of digital services. The report will focus on businesses that collect information from third-party sources and share or sell data to other organisations and, on the off chance that there might be competition and customer issues emerging from it.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Organizations: Oracle Corp, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Oracle, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Ireland, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Telstra-TPG Telecom network sharing deal blocked by Australia's competition tribunal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 21 (Reuters) - The Australian Competition Tribunal has upheld a decision to block a network sharing agreement between wireless internet firms Telstra Group (TLS.AX) and TPG Telecom (TPG.AX), TPG said on Wednesday. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had ruled against the plan in December, saying it would bring "a real risk that TPG and Optus will invest less in critical infrastructure". Optus, the country's No. 2 wireless internet provider and which is owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI), had opposed the deal, saying it would build Telstra's market dominance. Reporting by Harish Sridharan in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Harish Sridharan, Subhranshu Sahu Organizations: Australian, Telstra Group, TPG Telecom, TPG, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Australia's competition tribunal blocks Telstra-TPG Telecom network deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Harish Sridharan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

2 wireless internet provider owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI). TPG said it would review the tribunal's decision before considering its options for further appeal, including a judicial review in the Federal Court. Telstra shares were up 0.7% in early trade, while TPG's shares fell as much as 10.8%, the biggest intraday decline since August 2022. Optus, which had previously opposed the deal on the grounds it would build Telstra's market dominance, said it welcomed the tribunal's decision. "The tribunal's decision was a decisive move for competition in the sector," Commpete Chair Michelle Lim said.

Persons: Vicki Brady, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Commpete, Michelle Lim, Harish Sridharan, Subhranshu Sahu, Jamie Freed, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Companies Telecom, Optus, TPG Telecom, TPG, Telstra, Australian Competition Tribunal, Telstra Group, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Singapore Telecommunications, ACCC, ACT, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

Companies Dell Technologies Inc FollowJune 6 (Reuters) - Dell Technologies Inc's (DELL.N) Australian unit has been found guilty by the country's Federal Court to have misled customers about the prices or discounts on its add-on monitors on its website, Australia's competition regulator said on Tuesday. When customers chose to buy a personal computer, Dell Australia gave them an option to bundle a compatible monitor at a discounted, or a 'strikethrough' price, suggesting it would be cheaper to buy the monitor in a bundle rather than separately. Consumers paid more than A$2 million ($1.32 million) for add-on monitors between August 2019 and mid-December 2021, the regulator added. Dell Australia, which sold more than 5,300 add-on monitors with overstated discounts during the period, has refunded or agreed to offer compensation to more than 4,250 affected consumers, and has been ordered to offer full or partial refunds to affected customers. ($1 = 1.5122 Australian dollars)Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sameer Manekar, Rashmi Organizations: Dell Technologies, Dell Australia, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

Origin, Australia's top energy retailer, on Monday agreed to the long-running takeover offer from the consortium, nearing the conclusion of one of the country's biggest private equity-backed buyouts. Once the deal is completed, EIG's MidOcean Energy will take control of Origin's integrated gas business. Thomas said government policy swings world over are a by-product of the volatility associated with the tension between energy security and the transition to cleaner energy. Origin, Australia's No. Brookfield said it plans to invest a further A$20 billion of capital to fully replace Origin's power generation and its power purchases with green power over a decade.

☆ Alliance Aviation says Australian regulator delays Qantas deal review again
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo/File PhotoMarch 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Alliance Aviation Services Ltd (AQZ.AX) said on Monday the country's competition regulator has delayed a review until April 20 of the proposed acquisition of the charter operator by Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX). This marked the fourth delay so far by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the carrier's A$610.8 million ($409.97 million) acquisition offer of Alliance Aviation. Last May, Qantas announced plans to buy the remaining 80% stake in Alliance Aviation in an all-stock deal to expand its footprint in the charter business. Under the agreement, Qantas said the number of wet-lease aircraft options available from Alliance Airlines, a unit of Alliance Aviation Services, will be up to 12 additional Embraer E190 aircraft.

☆ Alliance Aviation Services says Australian regulator delays Qantas deal review
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Alliance Aviation Services Ltd (AQZ.AX) said on Monday the country's competition regulator had delayed a review of the proposed acquisition of the charter operator by Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX). The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has delayed its decision until April 20, marking the fourth delay so far on the carrier's A$610.8 million ($409.97 million) buy of Alliance Aviation Services. In May last year, Qantas said it would buy the remaining 80% stake in Alliance Aviation Services in an all-stock deal to expand its footprint in the charter business. ACCC and Qantas did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. ($1 = 1.4899 Australian dollars)Reporting by Upasana Singh and Navya Mittal in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australian regulator to monitor rapid growth in digital platforms sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 8 (Reuters) - The Australian competition regulator said on Wednesday it would probe the country's fast-evolving ecosystem of digital platform service providers as part of a five-year inquiry into the sector. "Interconnected products ... can provide consumers with a seamless experience that simplifies everyday tasks, but it's important that competition and consumers are not harmed as digital platforms invest across different sectors and technologies and expand their reach," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. ACCC also published an issues paper, seeking feedback from consumers, businesses and relevant stakeholders concerning the investment choices made by digital platforms and the potential effect on competition and consumers. This follows the ACCC announcing in January that it had conducted a sweep to identify misleading testimonials and endorsements by social media influencers across a range of digital platforms. Reporting by Riya Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brookfield consortium trims offer for Australia's Origin Energy to $10.5 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - A Brookfield-led consortium trimmed its offer for Origin Energy by 1% on Wednesday, valuing Australia's no.2 power producer and energy retailer at A$15.33 billion ($10.5 billion), after government moves to cap gas prices hit valuations in the sector. The consortium's first offer in November of A$9 per share was a near 55% premium to its previous close and valued Origin A$15.5 billion. Argo Investments, Origin's ninth largest investor, said the revised offer was still good value for the takeover target. The revised offer comprises A$8.90 apiece for the first 100,000 Origin shares. Almost 75% of Origin's shareholders own fewer than 100,000 shares, according to its annual report.

☆ Australia regulator to probe social media influencers for false endorsements
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator said on Friday it would check whether influencers on social media platforms had failed to disclose their affiliation with the brands they were promoting. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it would look at more than 100 influencers after several consumers informed the regulator about some endorsements and testimonials which they said were misleading. The probe will target influencers in fashion, cosmetics, food and beverage, travel, fitness, parenting, gaming and technology. It will also check if advertisers, marketers, brands and social media platforms are facilitating any misconduct. The ACCC has been conducting a series of investigations as part of a broader Digital Platform Services Inquiry, focused on the provision of social media services, including sponsored posts and influencer advertising on social media platforms.

☆ Origin Energy gives suitor Brookfield more time to review books
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Origin Energy (ORG.AX) has extended the exclusivity period for a Brookfield-led consortium to finalise its A$15.5 billion ($10.81 billion) buyout bid, the power producer said on Tuesday. The exclusivity period has been extended to Jan. 24, upon the consortium's request, Origin said. Origin Energy did not specify a reason for the extension, which sparked concern about the fate of the bid. Its shares fell as much as 3.7% to a low of A$7.37, well below the proposed offer price of A$9 a share. Origin said in November it would back the proposed offer if it went ahead.

☆ Australia blocks Telstra-TPG wireless internet deal, sparking legal fight
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Australia's antitrust regulator blocked an asset transfer deal between Telstra and TPG, the country's No.1 and No.2 wireless internet firms, citing competition concerns, setting the scene for a legal battle over access to four million customers. In a deal announced in May, Telstra Group (TLS.AX) was to buy spectrum - airwaves which carry wireless internet - and transmission towers from TPG Telecom Ltd (TPG.AX), while TPG would keep selling 4G and 5G coverage using what would become Telstra's infrastructure. 3 wireless internet provider Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI), opposed the deal saying it would build Telstra's market dominance. The decision sets up a second legal showdown between TPG and the ACCC in just over two years. "By knocking back this deal, the ACCC has helped ensure that our regional communities will continue to benefit from competition," said Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin in a statement.

☆ Australia rejects Telstra, TPG's network-sharing deal; firms to appeal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 21 (Reuters) - The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Wednesday rejected TPG Telecom's (TPG.AX) regional network-sharing agreement with Telstra Group (TLS.AX), and said the deal would significantly weaken overall competition in the country. TPG's shares tanked nearly 6% to a record low following the news, while Telstra slipped 0.1%. In February, the telecom giants signed a regional multi-operator core network agreement under which Telstra — the country's largest telecoms operator — would gain access to TPG's 4G and 5G spectrums. TPG and Telstra expressed disappointment with the competition regulator's decision, which the latter said it would appeal against, while rival telecoms firm Optus — owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI) — welcomed it. ACCC noted the network-sharing arrangement is proposed at a time when all the three companies — TPG, Telstra and Optus — are competing in the roll-out of 5G infrastructure including in regional areas.

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