The Commerce Commission has granted clearance for the merger of the diagnostic laboratory services businesses of Wellington Pathology Limited and Valley Diagnostic Laboratories Limited in the Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast District Health Board districts.

The 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 the relevant markets.

Background

Wellington Pathology is a wholly owned subsidiary of Abano Healthcare Group Limited. The Abano Group incorporates a range of healthcare and medical services companies, including rehabilitation, diagnostic and dental divisions. Abano is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

Valley Diagnostic is a wholly owned subsidiary of medical diagnostics company Sonic Healthcare (New Zealand) Limited, which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonic Healthcare Limited. Sonic Healthcare Limited is a medical diagnostics company, providing pathology and radiology services to medical practitioners, hospitals, community medical services and their patients. Sonic Healthcare Limited is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

A public version of the Commission's decision will shortly be available on the Commission's website www.comcom.govt.nz under the Clearances Register.