M&A

Coles has fired off Federal Court proceedings over the ACCC's decision to block its proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest in a supermarket and liquor store site in Kalgoorlie, one day after bringing proceedings at the Australian Competition Tribunal.

Australian private equity firm Next Capital has inked a deal to acquire Fujitsu's Australian data centre business, which includes premium facilities in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has opened a phase 2 review into animal drug company Zoetis' proposed acquisition of Neogen's global animal genomic testing business, saying it would substantially lessen competition in the market for animal gene testing services.

Coles has asked a tribunal to clear its proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest in a supermarket and liquor store site in Kalgoorlie, arguing the ACCC's finding that it would substantially lessen competition was "not objectively correct".

A director of Athlete's Foot owner Accent Group has stepped down as the retailer cooperates with an ASIC investigation into insider trading of its shares and tries to fend off a hostile takeover offer from shareholder Frasers Group.

Queensland government-owned CS Energy has agreed to sell its 50 per cent stake in the Boulder Creek wind farm in central Queensland to Aula Energy.

NextDC has increased its senior debt facilities by $500 million to help finance the data centre operator's  growth pipeline.

Lander & Rogers says its independence has helped the firm remain agile at a time when Australian law firms are increasingly pursuing international mergers to contend with economic pressures and rising client expectations.

The ACCC has referred global engineering and construction company Saipem S.p.A.'s proposed merger with rival Subsea7 S.A. to a Phase 2 assessment, raising concerns the deal could substantially lessen competition in the supply of infrastructure for Australia's offshore oil and gas industry.