New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has opened its review of Comhla Vet Limited’s proposed acquisition of all shares in VeterinaryFirst Limited.
Comhla operates 52 veterinary clinics and is part of a wider group with interests in veterinary products and services. Vet First operates 17 clinics. The application therefore asks the competition regulator to assess both the overlap between clinic networks and any effects arising from vertical links within the wider group.
The commission has published a statement of preliminary issues and invited submissions by 11 November. It has provisionally scheduled a decision for 16 December, although that timetable may be extended.
No clearance has been granted. Under New Zealand’s merger regime, the applicant must satisfy the commission that the acquisition would not be likely to substantially lessen competition in a market. The present step identifies questions for investigation rather than expressing a concluded view.
Official Commerce Commission notice
