The competition regulator has delayed announcing its findings on the proposed acquisitions of RACQ and RAA’s insurance underwriting operations. 

IAG said in November it had struck an $855 million deal to acquire RACQ’s underwriting and to begin a long-term distribution agreement. A few days later, Allianz Australia announced a similar $642 million deal with SA motoring group RAA. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says on its website it is seeking further information from the parties in both deals, and the provisional date of April 24 for announcing its findings will be pushed back.

“The ACCC will announce a revised provisional decision date in due course,” it says.

A review under informal merger process guidelines started on January 31, and a February 14 closing date was set for submissions.

Issues under consideration include how closely the companies compete in the supply of personal lines insurance and the likely impacts on prices and quality of products, plus the likely impact of IAG and Allianz’s increased scale on the acquisition of ancillary repair services.

IAG last year said it expected its deal to be completed in the third quarter of this year, subject to regulatory approval, while Allianz was looking at completion in the middle of this year.