Gunns Plantations Limited - completed acquisition of certain assets of Great Southern Limited

Summary

Gunns Plantations Limited, a subsidiary of Gunns Limited, has taken up the role of responsible entity for nine hardwood managed investment schemes (schemes for 1998 to 2006) formerly managed by Great Southern Limited (Great Southern). It also acquired certain assets of Great Southern used in connection with the management of the relevant schemes. The relevant schemes include hardwood plantations in the following regions:
- north-western Tasmania;
- north-eastern Tasmania;
- Green Triangle, SA/VIC;
- Albany, WA;
- Bunbury, WA;
- Kangaroo Island, SA;
- Gippsland, VIC;
- east coast, NSW; and
- east coast, Qld.

Market definition

The ACCC considered the completed acquisition in the context of the markets for the supply of hardwood pulpwood in the:
- north-western Tasmanian region;
- north-eastern Tasmanian region; and
- Green Triangle region (south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia).

Competition analysis

The ACCC considered that the completed acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition on the basis that Gunns Limited:
- would be constrained by alternate suppliers of hardwood pulpwood in each relevant market; and
- would not have the ability to foreclose any competitors in downstream woodchipping markets due to the availability of alternative hardwood pulpwood supply in each relevant market.