14 August 2025 – Australia’s competition watchdog has flagged serious concerns over MicroStar’s bid to acquire the assets of rival keg pooling provider Konvoy, warning the deal could eliminate the only significant competition in the market.
In a Statement of Issues released today, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the proposed acquisition would combine the country’s only two suppliers of keg pooling services — a system allowing brewers to rent kegs from a shared pool rather than own them outright.
“Many craft breweries appear to be reliant on keg pooling services to supply pubs and bars beyond local areas, and they are likely to have neither the ability nor the incentive to invest to self-supply and manage a fleet of kegs,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.
Market feedback indicated that alternatives, such as keg leasing or ownership, are not close substitutes, and that new competitors are unlikely to emerge in keg pooling. The ACCC’s preliminary view is that the acquisition would be likely to substantially lessen competition in Australia.
The regulator is seeking submissions from interested parties by 28 August 2025 before making a final decision. Details, including the Statement of Issues, are available on the ACCC’s website under MicroStar – Proposed Acquisition of Konvoy.
