Issues for Atlas Copco’s application to acquire Ash Air

Statement of preliminary issues for Atlas Copco’s application to acquire Ash Air
Issued 16 April 2014
Release No. 96

The Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues relating to an application from Atlas Copco South Pacific Holdings Pty Limited (Atlas Copco) seeking clearance to acquire some of the assets of Lancaster Group Limited including Ash Air (N.Z) Limited, Ash Air Oil & Gas Limited, MBAR 2011 Limited, and Fox Air NZ Limited (together, Ash Air).

The statement of preliminary issues outlines the key competition issues that the Commission currently considers will be important in deciding whether or not to grant clearance. The Commission’s statement of preliminary issues and the public version of the application are available on the Clearance Register.

The Commission invites submissions from parties who consider that they have information relevant to the Commission’s consideration of this matter. Submissions can be sent to registrar@comcom.govt.nz with the reference Atlas Copco/Ash Air in the subject line of your email or to PO Box 2351, Wellington 6140 by 4pm on Wednesday 30 April 2014.

Background

Atlas Copco is a subsidiary of Atlas Copco Group, which is based in Sweden. The Atlas Copco Group manufactures a range of equipment including air compressors, blowers, vacuum pumps and air treatment products and Atlas Copco imports and supplies these products in New Zealand.

The Ash Air companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Lancaster Group Limited. Like Atlas Copco in New Zealand, Ash Air imports, distributes and services a range of equipment including air compressors, blowers and vacuum pumps and air treatment products. However, unlike Atlas Copco, Ash Air does not manufacture any of these products itself.

ENDS

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