Ixom seeks clearance to acquire chemicals plant from Oji

21 December 2018
Release No. 99

The Commerce Commission has received a clearance application from Ixom Operations Pty Limited to acquire chemical manufacturing assets in Kawerau from Oji Fibre Solutions (NZ) Limited.

Ixom is headquartered in Australia but has chemical manufacturing, supply and distribution operations in several countries around the world. In New Zealand, Ixom supplies chemicals including sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda. Ixom operates a sodium hypochlorite plant in Christchurch.

Oji is wholly owned by the Oji Group, which is a global pulp and paper company. In New Zealand, Oji operates two pulp and paper plants in Kinleith (the Kinleith mill) and Kawerau (the Tasman mill), and a mill for recycled product in Auckland. Oji has two chemical manufacturing plants which it uses to supply chemicals to the Kinleith and Tasman mills. It also sells sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid and chlorine produced at its chemical plants to customers in New Zealand.

The proposed transaction would see Ixom take ownership of Oji’s chemical manufacturing assets in Kawerau.

A public version of the clearance application will be available shortly on the Commission’s case register.

Background

We will give clearance to a proposed merger if we are satisfied that the merger is unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.

Further information explaining how the Commission assesses a merger application is available on ourwebsite.

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