Vocus is referring larger telco rival TPG Telecom to the competition regulator after it almost tripled its stake in Amcom in a bid to frustrate a merger plan.
Vocus and Amcom agreed in late 2014 to a merger proposal to create a $1.1 billion company, with the potential to become a third force in telecommunications behind Telstra and Optus.
But to frustrate that bid, TPG has increased its stake in Amcom from 6.7 per cent to 18.6 per cent, less than a week before a planned shareholder vote on the $653 million merger.
"TPG supports the continued operation of Amcom as a standalone business under the stewardship of the current board of directors and management team," TPG said on Thursday.
Vocus says it plans to refer TPG to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
TPG has no plans to make a counter offer to Amcom, which has slammed their latest move.
"We are confused as to why TPG would want to disrupt a transaction which is demonstrably in the best interests of all shareholders, particularly when they have no intention of providing shareholders with an alternative proposal," Amcom chairman Tony Grist said.
"It would be disappointing to see a transaction which has received strong support from our 8,000 shareholders blocked by a minority shareholder who is acting in their own interest."
Bell Direct equities analyst Julia Lee said TPG's move to increase its stake in Amcom would make a Vocus-Amcom merger much less likely.
The merger proposal would need support from 75 per cent of shareholders, with Vocus barred from using its 10 per cent holding in Amcom to underpin its bid.
"Those kind of numbers are virtually unheard of," Ms Lee said.
TPG may also have increased its stake in Amcom with the longer term aim of expanding its optical fibre network.
"Eventually it could make sense to buy Amcom, probably not in the immediate future," she said.
Meanwhile, TPG is continuing to pursue a takeover of iiNet.
It is offering $1.4 billion in cash, but rival suitor M2 Group has signalled it may further increase its takeover bid if TPG doesn't improve its offer.
iiNet on Thursday gave TPG Telecom until next week to up its takeover offer in response to Dodo owner M2's rival $1.6 billion bid.
TPG shares fell seven cents, or 0.78 per cent, to $8.94 while Amcom shed 40 cents, or 14.8 per cent, to $2.30.
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