ACCC pushes back Rio-BHP JV decision again

Australia's competition regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has once again postponed the results of its review on the gigantic iron ore joint venture planned by Australian iron ore miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto for their Western Australian assets.
 
Accordingly, the former proposed date for the announcement of the ACCC's findings of July 22, 2010 has been amended to allow time for BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to make additional submissions.
 
As SteelOrbis previously reported, the ACCC, which started its review on December 9 and was originally to report its findings on February 24, had pushed back the date a few times. The ACCC said on its website it would announce a new date in due course.
 
If the joint venture is realized between the world's second and third largest iron ore producers, their combined production would immediately exceed that of the world's top producer Brazil-based Vale. The European Commission is also investigating the joint venture.