Expedia seeks clearance to acquire Wotif
The Commerce Commission has received an application from Expedia Inc. (Expedia) seeking clearance to acquire up to 100%
of the shares of Wotif.com Holdings Limited (Wotif).
Expedia is a global travel agency that provides online and telephone booking services for accommodation, flights,
vacation packages, car hire and other retail travel products. Expedia’s websites include Expedia.co.nz, Hotels.com and Trivago.co.nz.
Wotif is an Australian-based travel agency that provides online booking services for accommodation, flights, travel
packages and other travel products. Wotif’s websites include Wotif.com and Lastminute.com.au.
A public version of the application will be available shortly on our Clearances Register.
Background
Assessing an application for a merger or acquisition
When considering a proposed merger (or joint venture), the Commission must decide whether the competition that is lost
in a market when two businesses merge is substantial. We will give clearance to a proposed merger only if we are
satisfied that the merger is unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.
A fact sheet explaining how the Commission assesses a merger application is available on the Commission’s website at www.comcom.govt.nz/merger-assessment
ENDS