[AusNOG] TPG vs the World

[Brad Peczka]

TPGs campaign to own every customer and strand of fibre in Australia continues, with an announcement from Amcom this morning (http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20150430/pdf/42y7jb0tv5530k.pdf) stating that they intend to refer TPGs actions and purchase of a blocking stake to the ACCC.

There was a related article on ITNews (http://www.itnews.com.au/News/403386,tpg-boosts-amcom-stake-to-block-vocus-merger.aspx), in which James from Vocus makes some choice quotes - my personal favourite being "And that's the shame of it, one anti-competitive telco is affecting the value and the future of 9000 mums and dads. It's disgusting really."

>From the outside looking in, the whole TPG/Vocus/Amcom thing smacks of toys being thrown out of the sandbox because TPG can't have it all their way. The act of buying shares to block a merger without making a competing offer screams anti-competitive behaviour, though there's no undertaking that TPG won't make a bid for Amcom at a later date (and lower price?) if the Vocus deal gets scuttled?

Looks like interesting times ahead for all involved in the iiNet and Amcom deals...

Regards,
-Brad.