The ACCC has outlined its preliminary competition concerns with MicroStar's proposed acquisition of the assets of Konvoy, which is currently in administration and receivership, in a Statement of Issues today.
MicroStar and Konvoy both supply keg pooling services to brewers across Australia. These services enable brewers to rent kegs from a shared pool on a short-term basis to supply alcoholic beverages to their customers. MicroStar and Konvoy also supply key leasing services. MicroStar operates under the name Kegstar in Australia.
"The proposed acquisition would combine the only two providers of keg pooling services in Australia," ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.
"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".
Market feedback received by the ACCC indicated that alternatives to keg pooling services, such as key leasing or ownership, are not a close substitute and other businesses are not likely to start supplying keg pooling services in competition.
"Our preliminary view is that the proposed acquisition is likely to substantially lessen competition in the supply of keg pooling services in Australia," Dr Williams said.
The ACCC invites submissions from interested parties in response to the Statement of Issues by 28 August 2025.
More information, including the Statement of Issues, can be found on the ACCC's website at MicroStar - Proposed Acquisition of Konvoy.
Note
Keg Pooling Services
Keg pooling is a model which enables brewers to rent kegs from a shared pool of kegs on a short-term basis. Customers can order and subsequently fill empty kegs from these providers for a fee. As is the case for brewers who use their own fleets of kegs, customers are responsible for transporting these kegs to licensed venues.
Because these kegs are part of a larger pool of kegs and are not owned by individual breweries, they can all be returned to the keg pooling service rather than needing to be collected by the customer.
Section 50
In considering the proposed acquisition, the ACCC applies the legal test set out in section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Act.
In general terms, section 50 prohibits acquisitions that would have the effect, or be likely to have the effect, of substantially lessening competition in any market.
Section 50 applies even in circumstances where one of the parties is in administration and/or receivership.
Background
MicroStar is a keg services company incorporated in the United States and has operations in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It entered the Australian market in 2021 via the acquisition of the Kegstar business from Brambles Limited.
Kegstar was founded by Adam Trippe-Smith and entered the market in 2012 offering keg leasing services. Kegstar was subsequently acquired by Brambles Limited in 2015, and then acquired from Brambles Limited by MicroStar in 2021.
After leaving Kegstar, Adam Trippe-Smith founded Konvoy in 2019, which offered keg pooling services. Soon after Konvoy's entry, Kegstar also started to offer keg pooling services.
Konvoy is currently in voluntary administration and receivers undertook a sales process in which MicroStar was successful. On 11 March 2025, FTI Consulting and McGrathNicol were appointed, administrators and receivers of Konvoy respectively.
