Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Graeme Samuel has indicated this morning that he will recuse himself from ACCC deliberations concerning the proposed NAB/AXA merger.
Mr Samuel advised that he considered this course of action necessary to remove any perception of a conflict of interest arising from current issues concerning his family's investment in the DFO shopping centre chain.
Both NAB and AXA have been consulted and expressed no concern at Mr Samuel's continuing involvement.
However the Commission accepted Mr Samuel's position that he would cease to be involved in any further Commission deliberations on the NAB/AXA merger proposal.