In his recent address to the RBB Economics Forum, ACCC Chairman Rod Sims identified a number of key focus areas for the regulator. The Chairman offered valuable insight into potential future developments in the competition and consumer law space, including the ACCC's approach to mergers, the possible introduction of a prohibition against unfair trading practices, and further scrutiny of the agricultural sector. We explore the impact of the ACCC's agenda on the food and beverage sector. ...

The fund financing market in Australia continued to be buoyant in 2019. Private equity, infrastructure and real estate funds remain the main drivers of volume, with an increasing number of newly raised as well as existing private debt funds also capitalising on the market's additional liquidity and ...

The real estate industry continues to evolve in a technology focused world, unlocking new REITs (real estate investment trusts) and investment opportunities. Against a backdrop of low bond yields, easing monetary policy and global volatility, our real estate sector M&A experts share insights and consider what opportunities lay ahead for the real estate Mergers and Acquisitions sector. ...

The Australian Government has tabled the Crimes Amendment (Combatting Corporate Crime) Bill 2019 (the 2019 Bill) in the Senate, and the Attorney-General's Department has released Draft Guidance on the steps a body corporate can take to prevent an associate from bribing foreign public officials for public consultation (the Draft Guidance). Like the 2017 version of the Bill that lapsed earlier this year (the 2017 Bill), if passed, the 2019 Bill will strengthen Australia's foreign bribery laws, including by introducing a new corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery by an associate, and will introduce a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) scheme for resolving serious corporate criminal matters. Partner Rachel Nicolson, Senior Associate Andrew Wilcock and Associate Lewis Winter report on the key differences between the 2017 and 2019 Bills, and the content of the Draft Guidance. ...

Nucleus corporate law developments: ASIC to sample whistleblower policies; indexation of FIRB screening thresholds; Vodafone/TPG merger cleared in Federal Court; ACCC to commence home loan pricing inquiry; and other corporate law developments ...

It is critical that listed entities understand how COVID-19 is likely to impact their businesses and are prepared to make necessary disclosures to the ASX. To date, the majority of ASX-listed entities have not made any disclosure in relation to COVID-19. In this update we have set out a number of scenarios that should be considered by listed clients as part of the proper and ongoing assessment of the need for disclosure under the ASX Listing Rules. ...

Record levels of capital and a turning market for Australia. It's a new decade for private equity (PE) in Australia. After a drop in activity in 2019, we expect both buyside and exit activity levels to pick up considerably in 2020. ...

Allens advised Acciona Concesiones S.L ( ACCIONA ) on its investment in the project which is part of the consortium of equity investors, including John Laing and Hitachi Zosen INOVA. A separate tea ...

Allens has advised the Northwest Rapid Transit consortium on the financial close of the $3.7 billion Public Private Partnership for the next stage of the Sydney Metro. ...

As part of the CDR rollout, as of 6 February 2020 the Big 4 banks are now required to disclose certain types of product data following a request, with the first types of consumer data to be shared from 1 July 2020. ...