Release No. 93
Spark seeks clearance to acquire TeamTalk
The Commerce Commission has received a clearance application from Spark New Zealand Trading Limited (Spark) to, either
directly or indirectly, acquire up to 100% of the shares of TeamTalk Limited.
Spark is a subsidiary of Spark New Zealand Limited (listed on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges). Spark New
Zealand Limited is a telecommunications company whose services include fixed and mobile telecommunications for
residential and business customers.
TeamTalk is a telecommunications company whose services include delivering access to fibre networks for larger
organisations and businesses in the main centres, digital mobile radio and internet and voice services to hard-to-reach
areas. Its business includes Farmside and CityLink. TeamTalk is listed on the New Zealand stock exchange.
A public version of the application is available on the Commission’s Clearances Register.
Background
When considering a proposed merger, the Commission must determine whether the competition that would be lost with the
merger would be 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 theclearances page.
ends