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About the portal
The secure acquisitions portal allows businesses to:
- notify acquisitions
- request pre-notification engagement
- obtain payment details and upload proof
- manage notified matters.
What to know when using the portal
A user account is required
You need to create an account before you can use the acquisitions portal. When you create an account, you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions of use. Once you have an account, this is your login to access the portal.
A matter ID is created
When you first enter details about an acquisition in the portal, a unique matter ID is created for that acquisition. This will be the reference for that matter.
Save function is available
The portal has a save function. Once a matter ID is created, you can save your progress and return to the matter later.
There is support for multi-user access to a matter
Sometimes more than one person in your team needs access to a matter in the portal. Multi-user access to a matter on the portal is possible. The user who creates the matter can give other portal account holders permission to access the matter and edit that matter’s forms as an administrator or contributor.
Some responses are entered directly into portal fields and others are uploaded
You must answer all the questions and provide the information required by the relevant form. Before you access the portal, review the complete set of questions and our associated guidance:
Notification of proposed acquisition short form and guidance ( PDF 305.21 KB )
Notification of proposed acquisition long form and guidance ( PDF 365.46 KB )
Notification waiver application form and guidance ( PDF 333.73 KB | DOCX 217.08 KB )
The online portal requires users to answer the required questions and provide information in 2 parts. This is done by entering:
- some information directly into fields in the portal, and
- other information as uploaded documents at the end of the portal.
It is important that you pay close attention to ensure you include all the information required by the relevant form as well as any information identified by the ÌÇÐÄÔ´´ during pre-notification engagement.
When the portal asks for information that has already been provided in the portal from your earlier engagement with us, you will be asked to confirm that the information is still correct.
Upload the proof of payment
Individual payment details are provided in the portal after you reach a certain point in the portal process.
Upload proof of payment through the portal when paying by electronic funds transfer.
The ÌÇÐÄÔ´´â€™s assessment timeline commences for notifications and notification waiver applications after payment of the applicable fee. It is therefore critical that you upload proof of payment through the portal as soon as possible after paying by electronic funds transfer.
Payment by electronic funds transfer
The acquisition portal generates a unique payment reference number for each notification and each application.
If paying by electronic funds transfer, do not proceed with payment until you have the payment reference number from the portal.
The payment reference number must be included in the description when payment is made, either by the relevant party or their advisor. This enables us to:
- link the payment to the notification or waiver application
- efficiently confirm payment and the effective notification date or date when the application was made.
Account name: ÌÇÐÄÔ´´ Administered receipts account
Bank: Westpac Banking Corporation
BSB: 032 730
Account number: 146550
Payment narrative: <Payment reference number from the acquisitions portal>
When paying by electronic funds transfer, we encourage parties to confirm that the bank details correspond with those provided in the secure portal.
Payment by credit card
You can pay fees for notification waiver applications directly through the acquisitions portal by credit card.
Credit card payment is not available for notification fees.
Accepted file formats and names
Accepted file formats are all Microsoft Office file types, OpenOffice file types, PDF, ZIP, WLX, RAR, 7Zip, Gzip, and BZ2.
File names cannot contain the special characters + : < > “ / \ | ? “
Contact
If you are using the portal and need:
- technical assistance for a notification, please email mergers@accc.gov.au and we will be in contact.
- technical assistance for a notification waiver application, please email both mergers@accc.gov.au and notificationwaivers@accc.gov.au.