The bidding war between Qantas and Australian rival Ansett for New South Wales regional Hazelton Airlines continues, with Ansett raising an A$1.35 per share offer to A$1.60, leapfrogging Qantas' $1.50 bid. Ansett has also secured the Hazelton family's remaining shares, taking its stake in the slot-rich regional to 36%.
Both offers are conditional on approval from the Australian Consumer Competition Commission (ACCC), which said on 20 December that it would oppose both bids based on information available at that time. The rival bidders hope to agree a structure acceptable to the ACCC, but with Ansett-owned Kendell Airlines and Qantas-owned Eastern Australia Airlines competing with Hazelton, the issue is complicated.
Source: Flight International
