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Australia's competitors regulator raises concerns over Qube's RoRo terminal deal

Qube's deal to buy Melbourne's RoRo terminal has raised issues, Australia's. competition watchdog said on Thursday, as it would possibly. gain further interest in a part of the automobile delivery. supply chain at the Port of Melbourne.

Australia's biggest integrated terminal and freight. logistics company, Qube, had in May stated it would take control of. Melbourne International RoRo & & Automobile Terminal in an A$ 332.5. million ($ 220.61 million) offer.

The Australian Competitors and Customer Commission raised. issues that the potential deal may have a considerable impact. on competition in downstream services.

If this transaction proceeds, Qube would be running the. terminal while likewise being in active competition with other. automotive stevedores or pre-delivery evaluation (PDI) services. providers, stated the regulator's commissioner Philip Williams.

The ACCC included that Qube might raise the cost of access to. the Port of Melbourne for rival companies by limiting access to. the terminal, raising prices and decreasing the quality of. terminal services.

Issues were also raised Qube having access to competitors'. commercially delicate information if it ends up being the terminal. operator, the ACCC stated.

Qube said in a statement to the ASX that its unit,. Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT), which is splitting the. deal to takeover RoRo, has formerly operated the RoRo terminal. from 2002 up until its lease ended in 2017.

AAT operates all of its terminals subject to ACCC oversight. and has a strong history of compliance with the regards to the. carrying out that runs across all three terminals, Qube. stated.

(source: Reuters)