Aug. 29, 2012, 10:53 a.m.

The competition regulator has again delayed its decision on whether to allow Sonic Healthcare to take over Healthscope's east coast pathology businesses, raising expectations the $100 million deal might be rejected.

The long-awaited decision was expected to be announced tomorrow, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it is still seeking information from relevant parties and a decision will be made "in due course."

Sonic Healthcare, the international medical centre, pathology and radiology company, announced in May its intention to buy private equity-owned Healthscope's pathology businesses in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

The ACCC, in a statement of issues released earlier this month, said it was its "preliminary view" that the proposed acquisition might raise competition concerns in the Qld, NSW/ACT and WA community pathology services market.

Sonic chief executive Colin Goldshmidt told BusinessDay this month that the deal was "one of those things that we're optimistic it will happen, but if it doesn't happen, then Sonic is big enough that it's not really going to make a whole lot of difference".

Its shares reached a two-year high recently of $13.43, after reaching guidance with a 7.3 per cent increase in full-year profit to $316 million and offering cautious guidance for the 2013 fiscal year.

mheffernan@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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