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Weekly ACCC Deal Digest (26 August 2026)

9 new, 26 approved, 0 rejected and 40 pending deals with ACCC up to 25 August 2026

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Merger Loop
August 26, 2026

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❇️ New Deals

Novonesis – Microbiogen

Global biotechnology company Novonesis A/S, via Novozymes Australia Pty Ltd, proposes to acquire 100% of Australian biotechnology company Microbiogen Pty Ltd's outstanding share capital. Microbiogen researches yeast strains for industrial applications like biofuels, food, and animal feed, while Novonesis supplies industrial enzymes and microorganisms.

Bloomberg - Canoe Intelligence

Bloomberg, Inc. proposes to acquire Canoe Software Inc. via merger, making it a direct subsidiary. Bloomberg provides global financial news and technology solutions. Canoe offers a private markets investment data management and intelligence platform. Both companies operate globally, including in Australia.

Tencent – Happibits

Mount Baker Investment Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tencent Holdings Limited, proposes to acquire a portion of the share capital of Happibits Inc. This share sale involves two multinational technology companies operating in the development and publishing of mobile video games, where they have overlapping interests.

McCormick - Unilever Foods Business

McCormick & Company, Incorporated proposes to acquire Unilever PLC’s global foods business, structured as a share sale of Unilever's Australian foods business via Australia Food NewCo. Both companies operate in the food and flavour products industry, with Australian overlaps in retail recipe mixes, side dishes, and bottled sauces.

Lone Star Funds - ContiTech

Lone Star Fund XIII, via SCUR-Alpha 2068 GmbH, proposes to acquire ContiTech Deutschland GmbH. ContiTech provides engineered rubber, thermoplastic, and fabric technology solutions, including analogue printing plates mounting hardware. Lone Star's portfolio company, XSYS Germany GmbH, also supplies this hardware in Australia.

Coles - supermarket site in Kirkwood (QLD)

Coles Group Limited proposes to acquire a leasehold interest for a new supermarket in Kirkwood, Queensland. The site is being developed by Kirkwood LFR Development Pty Ltd, a joint venture of Cadre Pty Ltd and Argus Property Partners Pty Ltd. This transaction involves the supermarket and property development sectors, with the new store anticipated to open November 2029.

L'Oréal – Gucci Beauty Licence

L'Oréal, through its subsidiary Lake Beauté, proposes a 50-year worldwide exclusive licence from Kering subsidiaries Guccio Gucci and Gucci America. This agreement covers the creation, development, manufacture, and distribution of Gucci brand fragrance and beauty products, replacing Coty's current arrangement in the premium beauty market.

Chevron - Woodside asset swap

Chevron and Woodside are undertaking an asset swap. Woodside will acquire Chevron's interests in the North West Shelf Gas and Oil Projects, and Angel Carbon Capture and Storage. Chevron will acquire Woodside's interest in the Wheatstone Project and Julimar-Brunello fields. This impacts Western Australian domestic gas and carbon capture and storage.

Bunnings – Intellihub – Zelora Joint Venture

Bunnings Group and Intellihub Australia are establishing an incorporated joint venture, Zelora TopCo Pty Ltd, to operate their existing Zelora home renewable energy solutions business. The transaction involves them acquiring shares in Zelora TopCo, which will then acquire assets from the existing Zelora and Intellihub's Enreal businesses.

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⚡ New & Already Decided

Blackstone – Dresser Utility Solutions

Blackstone Inc. affiliate, Endeavor Purchaser V, Inc., has acquired 100% of the equity interests in Dresser Utility Solutions, LLC from NGS Cayman Holdings, L.P. Dresser manufactures and supplies equipment for gas and water utility networks, including gas meters and regulators, in Australia and globally.

Australian Retirement Trust – Westfield Mt Gravatt

Australian Retirement Trust, via investment vehicles managed by QIC Limited, is acquiring a 50% interest in the Westfield Mt Gravatt shopping centre in Brisbane. The interest, including associated non-rental income streams, is being acquired from certain Scentre Group entities. This transaction involves a significant retail property asset.

Cinven – Salsify

Cinven, a private equity firm, through its acquisition vehicle Salsa Bidco, Inc., proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in Salsify, Inc. Salsify is a US-headquartered provider of cloud-native product experience management software solutions, serving consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, and distributors. This is a share acquisition.

Acclime Corporate Services Australia – Polar 993 Group

Acclime Corporate Services Australia, ultimately owned by Warburg Pincus LLC, is acquiring 100% of the shares in the Polar 993 Group. This transaction combines Acclime's corporate and fund services with Polar 993's corporate trustee and responsible entity offerings for Australian investment managers.

Aurizon Network Pty Ltd is acquiring assets from Anglo American plc, Dhilmar Ltd, other Moranbah North joint venture participants, and Queensland government departments. This asset transaction facilitates relocating an 8.5km rail section and developing 10.8km new rail infrastructure, enabling coal extraction at the Moranbah North and Grosvenor complex.

Atmos – specific BayWa r.e. renewable energy projects

Atmos Renewables acquired 100% of the shares and assets in specific Australian renewable energy projects from BayWa r.e. This share and asset sale expands Atmos's portfolio of operational and development-stage wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Apax Funds – Techoraco Limited and Institutional Investor LLC

Investment funds advised by Apax Partners LLP, via Assemble UK Bidco Limited and Assemble US Bidco Inc, completed a 100% share acquisition of Techoraco Limited and Institutional Investor LLC from Delinian Limited. The targets operate in business-to-business events, insights, and market intelligence across the digital infrastructure and institutional investment sectors.

Australian Motors Group – Mudgee Toyota

Australian Motor Group, via AMG Headquarters Eighteen Pty Ltd, is acquiring substantially all the assets of the Mudgee Toyota motor vehicle dealership business from Dawnaco Pty Ltd. This asset sale expands Australian Motor Group's automotive dealership network, which currently operates 12 franchised dealerships across New South Wales, into the Mudgee region.

Coles – expansion of supermarket located within Coles head office site in Docklands, VIC

Coles Group Limited is varying an existing lease agreement with Bourke Junction No. 1 Pty Ltd, a Cbus Property subsidiary, to expand its mini supermarket and office space at 720 Bourke Street, Docklands. This property transaction in the retail and property development sectors will cater to local workers and event attendees.

Igneo Infrastructure Partners – Green Squares Energy

Igneo Infrastructure Partners, through its Australia New Zealand Diversified Infrastructure Fund (Active) and Vertis Bidco Pty Ltd, completed the 100% share sale acquisition of Green Squares Energy. This transaction involves an Australian energy business specialising in renewable energy and electricity contracting solutions, aligning with Igneo's infrastructure investment focus.

Pemba - Hewison Private Wealth

Pemba Capital Partners, through Elevate BidCo Pty Ltd, is acquiring 100% of the shares in Melbourne-based wealth management firm Hewison & Associates Pty Ltd. Pemba, a private equity fund manager with over AUD 2 billion in assets under management, is expanding its financial services portfolio with this share acquisition.

Armira and TA Associates – Intersurgical Aktiengesellschaft AG

Armira, a German alternative investment fund manager, and US private equity firm TA Associates, through Riverside BidCo Limited, intend to indirectly acquire joint control of Liechtenstein-based Intersurgical Aktiengesellschaft AG via a share purchase. Intersurgical Group designs, manufactures, and supplies medical devices for respiratory support.

CVC Capital Partners – DistroKid

CVC Capital Partners, a global alternative investment manager, proposes to acquire 100% of the shares in DK Holdco, LLC, trading as DistroKid. DistroKid is an independent digital music distribution platform, enabling musicians and record labels to distribute music to streaming platforms and providing ancillary services.

CrowdStrike – intellectual property and associated technology assets of XM Cyber

US cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. is acquiring the intellectual property and associated technology assets of Israeli cybersecurity company XM Cyber Ltd, an entity of the Schwarz Group. This asset purchase enhances CrowdStrike's cybersecurity services.

✅ Recently Approved

Silk Contract Logistics – Toll Transport bulk logistics (glass and plastic) assets

Silk Contract Logistics Pty Ltd acquired assets from Toll Transport Pty Ltd. This asset acquisition comprises Toll's bulk logistics (plastics and glass) business, including equipment, employee and customer contracts, providing warehousing and transportation services in Australia.

HiTech Group Australia - Hudson Global Resources

HiTech Group Australia Limited acquired certain Australian assets from Hudson Global Resources (Aust) Pty Limited (Administrators Appointed) via an asset sale. Both companies operate in recruitment services, with Hudson having entered voluntary administration. The acquisition has been approved.

MM Security – Micron Security Products

MM Security Supplies Pty Ltd acquired the business assets and goodwill of Micron Alarm Supplies Pty Ltd, trading as Micron Security Products. Both companies are wholesale suppliers of electronic security equipment, including CCTV and alarm systems, with national operations. The acquisition was approved.

M Resources and Golden Energy and Resources – Tahmoor Coal Mine

Golden Energy and Resources and M Resources, as a consortium, acquired the assets of the insolvent Tahmoor Colliery. This asset acquisition involves a metallurgical coal mine in NSW's Illawarra region, including mining rights, plant, equipment, real estate, and a 16.67% equity interest in Port Kembla Coal Terminal Limited.

Salesforce - Intercom

Global CRM and software-as-a-service supplier Salesforce acquired 100% of the shares in customer service software provider Intercom. Intercom offers its Helpdesk and Fin AI product. This share acquisition consolidates offerings in the customer service software and AI agent solutions market.

Syngenta Crop Protection and Dümmen Orange – Joint Venture Formation

Syngenta Crop Protection AG and Dümmen Orange Group formed a joint venture to combine their global ornamental plant breeding and propagation businesses. Syngenta is an agribusiness in crop protection and seeds; Dümmen Orange is a horticultural company. This joint venture was approved.

VSA - SprayLine

VSA Roads Pty Ltd proposes to acquire the spray sealing and line marking assets of SprayLine Road Services, a business operated by Head, Transport for Victoria. This asset sale follows the Victorian Government's decision to divest its internal road maintenance provider. VSA supplies related products and services.

AbbVie - Apogee

AbbVie Inc. proposes to acquire all outstanding shares of Apogee Therapeutics, Inc. This share acquisition combines two biopharmaceutical companies. Both develop therapies for inflammatory and immunological diseases, with an overlap in atopic dermatitis treatments. AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company, Apogee a clinical-stage biotechnology firm.

Obayashi Corporation – Multiplex

Japanese construction contractor Obayashi Corporation, via a subsidiary, acquired 100% of the shares in the Multiplex Group. Both companies are involved in large-scale construction projects, with Multiplex providing building construction services across Australia, Canada, and the UK, and Obayashi active globally, including Australia.

Estia Health – AnglicareSA residential aged care business

Bain Capital-backed Estia Investments Pty Ltd will acquire substantially all the business assets of six residential aged care homes from not-for-profit Anglicare SA Ltd. This asset sale involves residential aged care services in metropolitan Adelaide. The acquisition has been approved.

Protech - ActivateRail

Protech Group (Aust) Pty Ltd has acquired 100% of the shares of ActivateRail Pty Ltd. Protech is an Australian workforce provider to technical industries, including rail operations. ActivateRail supplies rail safety and site management and supervision services, creating a consolidated offering in the rail sector.

McCarroll's Automotive Group - Kinghorn Motor Group & Country Motor Company

McCarroll's of Moss Vale Pty Ltd, through its entities, acquired substantially all the assets of the motor vehicle dealership businesses of Kinghorn Motors Pty Ltd and Country Motor Company Pty Ltd. The asset acquisition also included the land on which these motor dealerships operate. This transaction is in the motor vehicle dealership industry.

❌ Recently Rejected

No rejections published since last edition.

🔁 Pending Deals

Notification — Phase 1 (initial assessment)

  • Saint-Gobain - Xypex: submitted 17 August 2026; expected 28 Sep 2026; MN-80035 ↗

  • OEConnection - Epyx: submitted 15 August 2026; expected 25 Sep 2026; MN-45024 ↗

  • Endeavour Group – retail liquor site in Horsham, VIC: submitted 14 August 2026; expected 25 Sep 2026; MN-10027 ↗

  • Metal Manufactures - BayWa Solar Systems: submitted 14 August 2026; expected 25 Sep 2026; MN-65031 ↗

  • Lockheed Martin Corporation – Ultra Maritime: submitted 14 August 2026; expected 25 Sep 2026; MN-75041 ↗

  • Incubeta - Datisan: submitted 13 August 2026; expected 24 Sep 2026; MN-05043 ↗

  • Adobe - Topaz Labs: submitted 13 August 2026; expected 24 Sep 2026; MN-30028 ↗

  • Opal HealthCare - Canberra Nursing Home (Lidcombe, NSW): submitted 12 August 2026; expected 23 Sep 2026; MN-50035 ↗

  • Supagas – Heeson Medical: submitted 11 August 2026; expected 22 Sep 2026; MN-80027 ↗

  • Holcim Australia – Burdetts Group: submitted 10 August 2026; expected 21 Sep 2026; MN-05044 ↗

  • Aware Super – Increased interest in Keyton: submitted 10 August 2026; expected 21 Sep 2026; MN-70030 ↗

  • The Independents Group – acquisition of entities within the Smuggler Group: submitted 7 August 2026; expected 18 Sep 2026; MN-35034 ↗

  • Australian Venue Co – assets of Black Nugget Hotel Motel, Bartletts Tavern and all associated detached bottle shops: submitted 6 August 2026; expected 17 Sep 2026; MN-15034 ↗

  • Osmoflo Water Management - Guidera O'Connor: submitted 6 August 2026; expected 17 Sep 2026; MN-35031 ↗

  • Wesfarmers and Built Group - Built Living Joint Venture: submitted 6 August 2026; expected 17 Sep 2026; MN-65021 ↗

  • Danaher (Leica Biosystems) - StatLab: submitted 5 August 2026; expected 16 Sep 2026; MN-15031 ↗

  • Modaxo - Conduent: submitted 5 August 2026; expected 16 Sep 2026; MN-25040 ↗

  • Eli Lilly and Company / AtaiBeckley Inc.: submitted 5 August 2026; expected 16 Sep 2026; MN-30030 ↗

  • Danone – MADE: submitted 5 August 2026; expected 16 Sep 2026; MN-55031 ↗

  • Johns Lyng Group – C&M Build Group: submitted 5 August 2026; expected 16 Sep 2026; MN-75035 ↗

  • MERIVALE – THE SACKVILLE HOTEL: submitted 4 August 2026; expected 15 Sep 2026; MN-35033 ↗

  • bp - bp Gateway: submitted 4 August 2026; expected 15 Sep 2026; MN-95033 ↗

  • KARMO/SIMPLR: submitted 3 August 2026; expected 14 Sep 2026; MN-15030 ↗

  • HAMMONDCARE - ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES' SUPPORT AT HOME BUSINESS: submitted 3 August 2026; expected 14 Sep 2026; MN-85038 ↗

  • Global Infrastructure Management and EQT led consortium - AES Corporation: submitted 30 July 2026; expected 10 Sep 2026; MN-70027 ↗

  • Accenture - Dragos: submitted 29 July 2026; expected 9 Sep 2026; MN-50032 ↗

  • Accenture - runZero: submitted 29 July 2026; expected 9 Sep 2026; MN-60031 ↗

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Kenvue Inc.: submitted 28 July 2026; expected 8 Sep 2026; MN-80005 ↗

  • Publicis Groupe - LiveRamp: submitted 27 July 2026; expected 7 Sep 2026; MN-60026 ↗

  • Petalite – Envu: submitted 24 July 2026; expected 4 Sep 2026; MN-90024 ↗

  • UPM-Kymmene – Sappi joint venture: submitted 16 July 2026; expected 10 Sep 2026; MN-30023 ↗

  • Amplifon – GN Hearing: submitted 13 July 2026; expected 9 Sep 2026; MN-20017 ↗

  • Peter Warren - Wakeling Automotive: submitted 13 July 2026; expected 4 Sep 2026; MN-90028 ↗

  • Journey Beyond - SeaLink Rottnest: submitted 1 July 2026; expected 2 Sep 2026; MN-50011 ↗

  • Journey Beyond - Kelsian Tourism Portfolio: submitted 1 July 2026; expected 2 Sep 2026; MN-85015 ↗

  • Calvary - Hobart Private Hospital: submitted 16 June 2026; expected 8 Sep 2026; MN-40013 ↗

Notification — Phase 2 (detailed assessment)

  • Vets Central – Hills Veterinary Centre: submitted 1 July 2026; expected 12 Jan 2027; MN-40017 ↗

  • Zoetis – Neogen Genomics Business: submitted 12 May 2026; expected 27 Nov 2026; MN-05013 ↗

  • Saipem S.p.A - Subsea7 S.A.: submitted 27 April 2026; expected 10 Nov 2026; MN-01072 ↗

  • Insurance Australia Group – RAC Insurance: submitted 3 March 2026; expected 23 Sep 2026; MN-65005 ↗