The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a Statement of Issues on the proposed acquisition of ITC Timber Pty Ltd by Gunns Limited.

The Statement of Issues seeks further information on certain competition issues which have arisen from the ACCC's market inquiries to date.

The ACCC invites further submissions from the market in response to the Statement of Issues by 11 November 2009. As a result, the ACCC's final decision will be deferred until 25 November 2009.

Submissions can be sent by email to the ACCC at: mergers@accc.gov.au.

The Statement of Issues will be available on the public merger register on the ACCC's website, www.accc.gov.au/mergersregister.