Commission holds RAL/Turoa conference

Commission holds RAL/Turoa conference, October 18-19

The Commerce Commission conference to gather further information about Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Limited's (RAL) application for authorisation to acquire Turoa Ski Resort Limited (in receivership) will be held in Wellington on October 18-19.

Commission Chair John Belgrave said that only interested parties can participate in an authorisation conference but the media and the public can attend to observe and report.

The conference will be held in the Discovery Room at the James Cook Centra Hotel, 147 The Terrace. The indicative timetable is:

Wednesday October 18

9am Mr Belgrave's introduction 9.05am RAL (General Manger Dave Mazey, Trustee Sir John Ingram, industry expert John Cooper, and John Feil and John Yeabsley from the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research), including breaks for morning tea at 10.30am and lunch at 12.30pm 2.30pm ex Ski Patrol Director and Safety Manager at Turoa Peter Sutton 3pm afternoon tea 3.30pm Turoa Receiver Gary Traveller 5pm Close

Thursday October 19

9am Ruapehu District Council Chief Executive Chris Ryan and Mayor Weston Kirton 10am NZ Ski Council Executive Director Miles Davidson 10.30am Morning tea 11am Ngauruhoe Ski Club Vice President Phillip Horrocks 11.30am Ohakune 2000 11.45am Ohakune business' representative Garrick Workman 12 noon Lunch 1pm Sutton McCarthy Director Keith Sutton 1.30pm Ngati Rangi representative Richard Pirere 3pm Afternoon tea 3.30pm RAL right of reply 6pm Close

The timetable for the Commission's investigation is:

July 31 RAL made its application August 28 Commission released its draft determination giving its preliminary view that, based on information then available, it would not authorise the proposal By September 25 Interested parties made submissions on the draft determination By October 2 Experts hired by interested parties made submissions on the draft determination October 18-19 Conference November 7 The Commission will make its final decision

Background

The Commerce Act prohibits business acquisitions that result in dominance being acquired or strengthened in any market.

Parties can apply for an authorisation-in effect an exemption from the Act-of a business acquisition that would otherwise be prohibited. The Commission will grant an authorisation if it is satisfied that public benefits from the proposed acquisition outweigh its detriments to competition.

Media contact: Commerce Act Manager Geoff Thorn Phone work (04) 498 0958, cellphone 021 661 104

Senior Advisor Communications Vincent Cholewa Phone work (04) 498 0920, home (04) 473 3827

Commission media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz

Regards Leo van Schyndel Records Officer Corporate Services Direct dial : (04) 498-0929 E-mail : leo.vanschyndel@comcom.govt.nz

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