The New Zealand Commerce Commission has published a Statement of Issues concerning Altano New Zealand Limited's application to acquire 100% of Matamata Veterinary Services Limited. This document outlines the Commission's preliminary competition concerns following an initial investigation into the merger.

Importantly, the Statement of Issues does not represent a final decision on the merger; it merely indicates that the Commission has identified potential issues that need further examination. The Commission is inviting feedback from Altano, Matamata Veterinary Services, and other stakeholders on the matters raised in the Statement.

Interested parties can submit their comments via email, with a deadline set for April 10, 2025, for initial submissions and April 17, 2025, for cross-submissions. The Commission aims to reach a decision on the merger application by April 30, 2025, although this timeline may be extended if necessary to ensure a thorough review of the potential competitive impacts.

The Commission's primary concern is whether the proposed merger would substantially lessen competition in the relevant market in New Zealand. Detailed guidelines on how the Commission evaluates merger applications are available on their official website.