New Zealand has asked the country’s High Court to block Platinum Equity LLC’s bid to buy OfficeMax Holdings Limited, echoing concerns voiced by Australia’s competition regulator that the deal will hinder competition.
A possible challenge to the AT&T, Time Warner mega merger by the DOJ, an explanation for the EU’s fascination with U.S. tech giants, and a win for New Zealand’s consumer regulator. Here’s the big competition and consumer protection news from around the globe this week.
The head of Wesfarmers has slammed inquiries into the dairy industry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Senate, saying the industry needs better infrastructure, not inquiries.
Australian Unity will fork over $620,000 in compensation to policy holders after an investigation by the consumer regulator found the health insurer had moved the goal posts by altering dental benefits in annual policies halfway through the year.
AirAsia has agreed to refund thousands of passengers with children who were wrongly charged an extra $60 fee on flights from Darwin to Bali for seven years.
The ACCC will have another go at its case against electronics giant LG next May, according to an order Thursday, and its appeal gives the full Federal Court a chance to clarify whether companies must inform consumers with faulty products of their rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
The judge overseeing a multibillion dollar consumer protection suit by the receiver of defunct toll road company BrisConnections against global engineering firm Arup has signed off on Brisconnections’ key expert report over the objections of Arup.
The ACCC has launched a public inquiry into the much maligned national broadband network, saying it will enforce new service standard rules if necessary.
Aveling Homes has admitted in court papers to taking down customer reviews it didn’t like from review websites it controlled, as alleged by the consumer regulator in its suit claiming the builder duped prospective customers.
Caps on the amount of spectrum available to any single company at the upcoming 5G auction could help prevent big operators from keeping out new players, the competition watchdog said Wednesday.