BHP Billiton Ltd and Rio Tinto Ltd - joint venture in Western Australian iron ore production

ACCC commenced review under the Merger Review Process Guidelines.

Closing date for submissions from interested parties.

ACCC requested further information from the proposed joint venture parties - ACCC timeline suspended. Former proposed date for the announcement of the ACCC's findings of 24 February 2010 delayed.

ACCC published a Statement of Issues outlining preliminary competition concerns.

ACCC requested further information from the proposed joint venture parties.

Former proposed date for announcement of ACCC's findings of 28 April 2010, amended to allow time for BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to respond to the ACCC's information request of 30 March 2010, and for the ACCC to consider the proposed joint venture parties' responses.

Closing date for submissions relating to Statement of Issues.

ACCC timeline suspended to allow the proposed joint venture parties additional time to respond to the ACCC's information request of 30 March 2010.

ACCC requested further information from Rio Tinto.

ACCC received responses to information requested on 30 March 2010. ACCC requested further information from BHP Billiton. ACCC timeline remains suspended.

Former proposed date for announcement of ACCC's findings of 27 May 2010 amended to allow the proposed joint venture parties to respond to the ACCC's information requests of 11 and 13 May 2010 and to provide information in addition to that requested by the ACCC.

ACCC received response to information requested on 13 May 2010 from BHP Billiton.

ACCC received response to information requested on 11 May 2010 from Rio Tinto. ACCC timeline recommenced.

The former proposed date for the announcement of the ACCC's findings of 22 July 2010 suspended at the request of the joint venture parties to allow them to make additional submissions to the ACCC.

ACCC timeline remains suspended following a request by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto that the ACCC delay making a decision regarding the proposed joint venture until after the parties have had further discussions with overseas regulators and provided additional submissions to the ACCC.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto announced they had terminated their joint venture agreement. Consequently, the ACCC ceased its review of the proposed joint venture.