The Commerce Commission has cleared Toll Owens Limited (Toll Owens) to acquire the log marshalling assets of John Ray Limited (John Ray).

Commission Chair Paula Rebstock said that the Commission was satisfied that the proposed acquisition would not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in any of the relevant markets.

Toll Owens is a joint venture company owned 50% by Port of Tauranga Limited and 50% by Toll Limited. Toll Owens' services include marshalling, stevedoring, warehousing, ships agency, transport and cruise line services at New Zealand ports. Toll Owens subsidiaries include: Owens Cargo Company Limited; TLNZ Limited; and TLNZ Auckland Limited.

John Ray is a privately-owned business involved in log-harvesting and in the provision of log marshalling services. It is the sole provider of log marshalling services at Centreport in Wellington and at the Port of Taranaki.

A public version of the written decision will shortly be available under the Clearances Register.