Australia to Tighten Scrutiny of Mergers Involving Large Companies

The proposed reforms will also speed up merger deals that are deemed not to threaten competition.
Australia to Tighten Scrutiny of Mergers Involving Large Companies
Woolworths and Coles supermarket signage in Melbourne, Australia on March 13, 2024. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
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The Australian government has introduced a bill to overhaul the country’s merger laws, marking the most significant change to its competition framework in almost five decades.

The new legislation, presented by Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Parliament on Oct. 10, aims to establish a system that differentiates between mergers deemed to stifle competition, and those that provide real economic benefits.