Australia: Expedia scrutinized over buyout

Expedia.com’s $660 million acquisition of Wotif.com has caught the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, say reports.

The ACCC is reportedly seeking information from competing travel booking businesses regarding the takeover to inquire as to whether the deal harms competition. The authority is expected to make a final ruling on the transaction in early September after receiving public comment on the matter.

In question are the substitutability of the online travel booking sites, reports say, and how closely those sites compete with brick-and-mortar locations like Flight Centre. Some critics say the takeover could harm jobs in the industry over the long-term; those critics include the Australian Hotels Association of WA, which is expected to file a submission to the ACCC to weigh-in on the matter.

Full content: Sydney…