A battle with the competition regulator over the proposed ANZ, Suncorp tie-up has begun, with the first clash involving a group of rival lenders that want their submissions to the ACCC kept under lock and key.
ANZ has lodged an application asking the Australian Competition Tribunal to reverse the competition regulator’s rejection of its $4.9 billion tie-up with Queensland-based Suncorp.
The ACCC has rejected ANZ’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Queensland-based Suncorp, setting up a likely challenge before the Australian Competition Tribunal.
ANZ’s $47 million settlement of a class action over its consumer credit insurance has been given the nod by a judge, who has also approved recovery of the cost of after-the-event insurance held by the law firm running the case.
The competition regulator has delayed its final decision on whether to approve ANZ’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Queensland-based Suncorp, after expressing worries the tie-up could stifle the growth of smaller banks.
A $47 million settlement in a class action against ANZ — one of three settlements in a series of class actions against the big banks over ‘junk’ consumer credit insurance — was fair and reasonable, a judge has said.
ANZ has rubbished arguments from a competitor and the ACCC that its merger with Suncorp’s banking arm will reduce competition and hurt consumers, saying the watchdog had been asked to believe a “distorted and selective view” of the proposal.
Westpac, Macquarie and ANZ are seeking class closure orders ahead of mediation in three class actions over flexible commissions schemes, telling a court hearing they will be “completely at sea” without a better idea of the class size.
A senior ANZ executive was “deeply concerned” by the size of the shortfall in its $2.5 billion 2015 equity capital raising, the court heard on the first day of trial in ASIC’s civil penalty case against the bank over alleged disclosure breaches.
The competition regulator has cast doubt on the public interest argument for the proposed $4.9 billion ANZ, Suncorp tie-up, saying Tuesday the nature, likelihood and extent of the touted benefits had not been substantiated.