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New Zealand: Spark would go to court over Sky TV merger with Vodafone

By  |  February 16, 2017

Spark would go to court over Sky Television’s proposed merger with Vodafone.

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    Sky Television says Spark, Trustpower and InternetNZ had advised Sky and Vodafone that they would go to court if the Commerce Commission approves Sky’s planned merger with Vodafone.

    The Commerce Commission is due to rule on the merger next week.

    Sky said it and Vodafone had received letters from lawyers representing Spark, Trustpower and InternetNZ seeking assurances that Sky and Vodafone would not complete the merger, were they to get approval, “for a period of time that will enable the parties to challenge the Commerce Commission decision in court”.

    Sky said it and Vodafone had declined to provide the requested assurances.

    “Counsel for Spark indicated in their letter that if the assurances are not provided they anticipate being instructed to seek an interim stay. Sky does not consider that there is any proper basis for seeking an interim stay from the courts and, should any party seek an interim stay, Sky intends to oppose any such application and seek an undertaking as to damages,” it said in a statement to the NZX.

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