Australia: Closed Public Consultation by ACCC on realestate.com.au's proposed acquisition of Dynamic Methods

On 1 March 2024, the ACCC closed its consultation regarding its preliminary competition concerns with the proposed acquisition of Dynamic Methods by realestate.com.au, a subsidiary of REA Group. REA Group provides digital advertising in the real estate market, while Dynamic Methods operates a tool which facilitates the digital use of real estate forms. The ACCC is concerned that the proposed acquisition may reduce competition in markets for the supply of digital real estate products and services that encompass REA Group’s ecosystem of products and services, as the suggested merger brings together the largest provider of digital real estate advertising services with the largest supplier of digital real estate forms. According to the ACCC's initial assessment, following the acquisition, REA Group might possess both the capacity and motivation to foreclose other players in the digital real estate process, including as a result of its access to unique and exclusive data.