Patrick Corporation - proposed acquisition of additional shares in Virgin Blue Airlines
Summary
Patrick Corporation - proposed acquisition of shares in Virgin Blue.
File number
M2005/55
Outcome
Not Opposed
Date completed
1st March 2005
Merger type
Shareholding
Market definition
The Commission did not consider market definition to be a critical issue in this matter, but considered that the most relevant markets were likely to be:
* domestic air passenger transport services;
* domestic air freight services; and
* the market for the provision of international air passenger transport services on particular routes.
Competition analysis
The Commission decided that the acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any market. The Commission took into consideration possible vertical integration issues arising from Patrick's airport-related operations. However, the Commission noted that Patrick already owns 46% of Virgin Blue shares and that Patrick's airport-related operations already have close links with Virgin Blue.
