The Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues relating to an application from Bligh Finance Limited (owner of the Hirepool rental business) seeking clearance to acquire the business of Hire Equipment Group Limited.

The statement of preliminary issues outlines the key competition issues that the Commission currently considers will be important in deciding whether or not to grant clearance. The Commission’s statement of preliminary issues and the public version of Hirepool’s application are available on the Commission’s website at www.comcom.govt.nz/clearances-register/

The Commission invites submission from parties who consider they have relevant information for the Commission’s consideration.

Submissions can be sent to registrar@comcom.govt.nz with the reference Hirepool/Hirequip in the subject line of the email, or to PO Box 2351, Wellington 6140 by 4pm Monday 5 November 2012.

Background

A fact sheet explaining how the Commission assesses mergers and acquisitions is available at www.comcom.govt.nz/merger-assessment/