The Commerce Commission has cleared Provet NZ Pty Limited (Provet) to acquire the business and assets of National Veterinary Supplies Limited (NVS).

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 New Zealand markets for:

  • the wholesale supply of companion animal remedies; and
  • the wholesale supply of livestock animal remedies.

Provet is an Australian-owned company that wholesales prescription animal remedies, over the counter animal health products, pet nutrition products, veterinary practice disposable items, and animal related merchandise. Provet supplies these products solely to registered veterinary practices, predominantly in the north of the North Island.

NVS wholesales similar products to veterinarians and also manufactures six animal health products, including Pentobarb, a drug used for euthanasing animals. NVS sells its manufactured products to other wholesalers as well as directly to veterinarians nationwide.

A public version of the written decision will shortly be available on the Commission's website.