Fairfax gets all-clear for $50m acquisition of All Homes

The competition regulator has given the all-clear for the acquisition of ACT-based All Homes by Fairfax after concluding the declining circulation of the Canberra Times was among the reasons why the deal would not damage competition in the online or print real estate market.

The deal will boost Fairfax’s Domain business as speculation continues to persist that the real estate division may float separately from the main company.

Fairfax announced in July that it was spending about $50 million to acquire All Homes which serves 180 real estate agencies in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding areas of regional NSW.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) described Domain as a “weak competitor” in the ACT and concluded that competition was unlikely to diminish.