More competition can flow from Tatts/Tabcorp merger, says the Australian Competition Tribunal

The decision confirms that a merger in a competitive market can be good for consumers, if there are genuine efficiency savings which are likely to be shared through greater competition.

The latest chapter in the saga of the proposed Tatts/Tabcorp merger has seen the Australian Competition Tribunal again determine that the merger would not lead to a lessening of competition in the Australian wagering market, but is likely to increase competition and have public benefits - a decision that should give some comfort to merger parties in competitive industry sectors that are undergoing digital disruption (Applications by Tabcorp Holdings Limited [2017] ACompT 5 - Clayton Utz acted for Tatts).