Statement of Preliminary Issues released for Sealord’s proposed acquisition of Independent Fisheries
Published20 Oct 2023
The Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues relating to an application from Sealord Group Limited seeking clearance to acquire the fishing business of Independent Fisheries.
The statement outlines the key competition issues that the Commission considers important in deciding whether or not to grant clearance to the proposed acquisition.
The Commission invites interested parties to provide comments on the likely competitive effects of the proposed acquisition. Submissions can be sent by email to registrar@comcom.govt.nz with the reference “Sealord/Independent Fisheries” in the subject line. Any submissions should be received by close of business on 3 November 2023.
The Commission is currently scheduled to make a decision on the application by 16 November 2023. However, this date may be extended as the investigation progresses. The Statement of Preliminary Issues and a public version of the application can be found on the Commission’s case register.
Background
We will give clearance to a proposed merger if we are satisfied that the merger is unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.