Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, WORTH NOTING—Other Antitrust and Trade Regulation developments, (Oct 14, 2015)

ANTITRUST NEWS: An individual who is reportedly an ex-Deutsche Bank trader has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to manipulate and attempt to manipulate the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The one-count charge was filed in the federal district court in New York City against Michael Ross Curtler on October 8. The defendant has been released on a $500,000 bond (U.S. v. Curtler, Case No. 1:15-cr-00670-VSB).

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS NEWS: In an October 13 address, Rod Sims, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that the agency is currently assessing the following complex mergers, all of significant importance to the Australian economy: Brookfield’s proposed acquisition of Asciano; Royal Dutch Shell’s proposed acquisition of BG Group; Coles’ proposed acquisition of nine Supabarn supermarkets; Foxtel’s proposed acquisition arrangements with Ten Network Holdings; and Haliburton’s proposed acquisition of Baker Hughes. Sims stated that a decision on the Brookfield acquisition of Asciano is expected on October 15. He also mentioned two other priorities: truth-in-advertising and union antitrust issues in his statement.

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