Weekly ACCC Deal Digest (17 Feb 2026)
4 new, 8 approved, 0 rejections, 1 suspended and 13 pending deals with ACCC up to 17 Feb 2026
Merger Loop
February 18, 2026
This week’s MergerLoop features 4 new filings across superannuation administration, animal health, energy generation, and enterprise software.
8 transactions were approved, 1 was suspended as materially incomplete, and 13 deals remain under assessment, including ongoing Phase 2 reviews for Ampol–EG Australia and Coles’ proposed Kalgoorlie supermarket and liquor site and deals from Google, Symal Group and IBM.
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❇️ New Deals
Apex – Mercer Administration Services and related assets
Apex Group Limited, proposes to acquire all issued share capital in Mercer Administration Services (Australia) Pty Limited and certain assets (contracts and associated records) of Mercer Outsourcing (Australia) Pty Ltd. Apex is a global financial services provider offering fund administration, custody, investor and corporate services. The target businesses provide outsourced administration services primarily to Australian superannuation funds, including fund administration, fund accounting, insurance administration and risk administration.
CVS Group – Pittwater Animal Hospital
CVS Vets (Australia) Pty Ltd proposes to acquire Pittwater Animal Hospital, a small animal veterinary practice in Warriewood on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. CVS Group operates veterinary practices across Australia, including other clinics in the Northern Beaches area, and the acquisition adds another local veterinary practice to its network.
Sembcorp Industries – Alinta Energy
Sembcorp Industries Ltd proposes to acquire 100% of Pioneer Sail Holdings Pty Limited and its subsidiaries, including Alinta Energy Ltd and Latrobe Valley Power (Holdings) Pty Ltd, which operates the Loy Yang B coal-fired power station. Alinta Energy supplies electricity and gas to customers across Australia and owns generation assets across coal, gas, wind and solar, along with a pipeline of renewable energy projects. Sembcorp’s largest shareholder is Temasek, which also holds interests in Australian energy infrastructure through Jemena and renewable energy assets through Neoen.
ServiceNow – Armis
ServiceNow, Inc. proposes to acquire Armis, Inc., a cyber exposure management and security platform provider. ServiceNow is a US company that supplies enterprise workflow software including in IT operations management and operational technology (ie utility grids and industrial machinery), and Armis supplies cybersecurity products, including tools used across IT security and operational technology environments.
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✅ Recently Approved
L’Oréal – Kering Beauté
L’Oréal proposes to acquire Kering Beauté, including the Creed fragrance brand and long-term beauty licences for Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta. Kering Beauté operates in luxury fragrances and cosmetics. The transaction would expand L’Oréal’s portfolio of prestige beauty brands.
Ramsay Health Care – National Capital Private Hospital
Ramsay Health Care proposes to acquire National Capital Private Hospital from Healthscope. The hospital operates as a private hospital in the Australian Capital Territory.
H-E Parts – Paget (Queensland) warehouse workshop site
H-E Parts International Mining Solutions Pty Ltd entered an agreement for lease with A.T.B. Morton Pty Limited for land at 88 Michelmore Street, Paget, Mackay, Queensland, and improvements to be constructed by A.T.B. Morton. A.T.B. Morton will build a purpose-built warehouse and workshop facility and lease it to H-E Parts for mining equipment parts and service operations.
Kee Safety – RIS Safety
Cielo TopCo Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary Kee Safety (Australia) Pty Ltd, acquired RISSafety Enterprises Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries. Kee Safety supplies working-at-height access solutions outside Australia, including design, installation, inspection and training for fall protection equipment. RIS Safety supplies working-at-height goods and services across Australia, operating under brands including RISSafety and Sydney Safety Training.
Paragon Care – Presidental
A wholly owned sub of Paragon Care Limited, proposes to acquire the assets of the Presidental business from Presidental Pty Limited and Rockpac South Pacific Pty Ltd. Paragon Care is an ASX-listed healthcare supplier of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and devices, and specialist consumables across ANZ and Asia. Presidental supplies dental equipment, maintenance and repair services to dental clinics and surgeries in NSW, Qld, Vic and Tas, and supplies related consumables and sterilisers.
Vets Central – Gawler Animal Hospital and Animalia Vet Clinic
Vet Central proposes to acquire 100% of the business assets of Gawler Animal Hospital and Animalia Vet Clinic. Vets Central is an Australian veterinary group operating ~78 first opinion clinics across Australia and New Zealand, offering core, planned and emergency veterinary services. The Targets are full-service first opinion veterinary practices providing routine, planned and emergency services (excluding after-hours) for household and exotic pets in the Gawler and Evanston areas of South Australia.
Coforge – Encora
Coforge Limited acquired Encora US Holdco, Inc. and Encora Holdings Limited. As consideration, Encora Holdco Limited and AI Altius Parent (Cayman) Limited acquired a non-controlling minority interest in Coforge. Coforge provides global technology services and solutions, including in Australia. Encora supplies digital engineering services focused on software product development, with a limited presence in Australia.
Stockland – Halcyon Jardin and Evergreen projects
Stockland transferred land and development assets for the Halcyon Jardin and Halcyon Evergreen projects in Clyde and Clyde North, Victoria, from Stockland-controlled entities to newly established special purpose trusts. The land was transferred to SMLLP Asset Pty Ltd as trustee for two new trusts, and development rights and work in progress were transferred to another newly established trust. Stockland continued to control the new trusts and will continue developing both projects.
❌ Recently Rejected
No rejections published since last edition.
⏸️ Suspended
MicroStar Logistics – Konvoy (Australian assets)
The ACCC decided this deal has no effective notification date because it was materially incomplete, and the assessment is suspended.
Kegstar Pty Limited, a subsidiary of MicroStar Logistics, proposes to acquire certain Australian assets of Konvoy Holdings Pty Limited, including kegs, tracking technology, selected employees, and a maintenance facility. Both parties supply pay-per-fill and keg leasing services to brewery customers in Australia.
🔄 Pending Deals
Ampol – EG Australia
Ampol Limited proposes to acquire the EG Australia fuel and convenience retail network under a share purchase agreement. The transaction involves the transfer of ownership of fuel and convenience retail sites operating across Australia.
Coles – supermarket and liquor site in Kalgoorlie, WA
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd proposes to acquire a leasehold interest in a new neighbourhood shopping centre in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The site will operate as a large-format supermarket with an attached liquor store.
Google – Wiz
Google LLC proposes to acquire 100% of the share capital in Wiz Inc. Wiz supplies cloud security software used to identify, monitor, and manage security risks across cloud environments.
GE Healthcare – Intelerad
GE Healthcare proposes to acquire Intelerad. Intelerad supplies medical imaging software used for picture archiving, radiology reporting, and workflow management by hospitals and imaging providers. The transaction would combine medical imaging equipment and digital health software businesses.
Symal Group – Timms Group and L&D Group
Symal Group Limited proposes to acquire the businesses and assets of Timms Group and L&D Group and related entities supplying civil construction and plant hire services in Queensland.
North American Construction Group – Iron Mining Contracting and Iron Hire
North American Construction Group Limited, via NACG WA Acquisition Pty Ltd, proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in DCL Corp Pty Ltd, trading as Iron Mining Contracting, and Iron Hire Pty Ltd.
Abbott Laboratories – Exact Sciences
Abbott Laboratories proposes to acquire all shares in Exact Sciences Corporation. Abbott supplies healthcare products globally, while Exact Sciences develops molecular diagnostic tests focused on cancer screening and detection.
Symal Group – 80% of Davison Earthmovers
Symal Group Limited proposes to acquire an 80% interest in the entity holding the business and assets of Davison Earthmovers. Symal is a national civil and infrastructure contractor, and Davison Earthmovers is a South Australian civil contractor specialising in earthworks and infrastructure services.
IBM – Confluent
International Business Machines Corporation proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in Confluent, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed company that provides Apache Kafka-based data streaming software for cloud-native and on-premise data infrastructure, enabling organisations to publish, subscribe to, store and process real-time data streams.
Parker-Hannifin – Filtration Group
Parker-Hannifin Corporation proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in Filtration Group Corporation. Parker-Hannifin designs motion and control technologies for aerospace and defence, transportation, energy, HVAC and refrigeration. Filtration Group designs, manufactures and supplies filtration and separation products for life sciences, indoor air quality and industrial applications including in Australia.
Australian Venue Co. – four Sydney licensed venues
AVC Operations Pty Limited proposes to acquire the assets of four licensed venues in metropolitan Sydney: Public House Petersham, The Erko, The Golden Sheaf, and Barangaroo House. Australian Venue Co. operates pubs, bars, and licensed restaurants across Australia and New Zealand.
Bain Capital – MCJ
Bain Capital Investors, LLC proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in MCJ Co., Ltd through a newly created SPV, BCPE Meta Cayman, L.P. MCJ is an integrated information and communications technology business listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, supplying information technology product repair and support services in Australia under the R-Logic brand.
Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions – Nilfisk
Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions GmbH proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in Nilfisk Holding A/S. Freudenberg supplies manual and chemical cleaning products in Australia, while Nilfisk supplies professional cleaning machines, accessories, and maintenance services, including floorcare, vacuum, and industrial cleaning equipment.