Clearance Application From Southern Cross Oxford

Media Release

Issued 11 October 2004-05/045

Commission receives clearance application from Southern Cross Oxford Hospital

The Commerce Commission has received an application from Southern Cross Oxford Hospital Limited (SCOHL) seeking clearance to acquire the assets of the Oxford Clinic business in Christchurch. The assets include the lease of buildings, various assets including stock, business contracts, intellectual property and goodwill.

SCOHL is a new company which will be the agent for a 50/50 partnership between Southern Cross Hospitals Oxford Partnership Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Southern Cross Health Trust, and Oxford Clinic Holdings Limited (OCHL). OCHL comprises of The Oxford Clinic Limited and The Oxford Clinic Day Hospital Limited.

The Southern Cross Hospital is primarily an in-patient facility for the provision of secondary elective healthcares services. The facility is used to carry out all types of surgery (except cardiac) ranging from general surgery to neurosurgery.

The Oxford Clinic Day Hospital provides facilities for the provision of secondary elective healthcare services, primarily on a day stay basis. The procedures performed at the Oxford Clinic are mostly gynaecology, with some general surgery and endoscopy.

In considering this application, the Commission's role is to determine whether the proposed acquisition has the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.

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

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