Issued 30 January 2004

The Commerce Commission will officially launch its new Mergers and Acquisitions Guidelines at a series of industry seminars to be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in March. Media and industry representatives are invited to attend.

The seminars will give an overview of the Commission's new Guidelines, which detail the Commission's approach to the application of the substantial lessening of competition threshold in its work under the mergers and acquisitions provisions of the Commerce Act.

The seminars will also provide an opportunity to ask questions of a panel of Commission representatives, including Chair Paula Rebstock, Chief Economist Dr Michael Pickford, General Counsel Peter Taylor and Acting General Manager Geoff Thorn.

The seminars will be held as follows:

Auckland:

Monday 8 March, 1-4pm

Heritage Hotel (Laidlaw Room), 35 Hobson Street

 

Wellington:

Wednesday 10 March, 1-4pm

NGC Building (Wanaka Room), Ground Floor, 44-52 The Terrace

 

Christchurch:

Tuesday 16 March, 1-4pm

Heritage Hotel (Maddison Room), 28-30 Cathedral Square

 

Media and industry representatives interested in attending one the seminars should RSVP by Friday 20 February to communications@comcom.govt.nz.