Decision delayed on TPG-Vodafone merger

Australia's competition watchdog has dropped a provisional date for when it will decide whether to approve TPG Telecom's proposed merger Vodafone Group Plc, an update on its website shows.


In its latest delay, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Friday it was still receiving required information from TPG and Vodafone before it can set a new provisional date for its decision on the mega-telco tie-up.


ACCC had initially set a provisional date of March 28, but in January pushed that back by two weeks to April 11.


In December, ACCC said it was concerned whether the merger would reduce the incentive for the resulting entity to offer lower prices, as the deal involves two of the industry's biggest four players.


The regulator's decision may be further complicated by TPG's move in January to abandon plans to build a mobile telephone network due to a ban on the use of equipment from Huawei Technologies, its chosen supplier.


A Vodafone spokesperson said the company has provided a "significant amount of material" already, and remains committed to the merger.
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TPG did not respond to an emailed request for a comment.