US/Australia: The Commission of New Zealand has granted clearance to USG Corporation and Boral Limited to enter into a joint venture.
The proposed joint venture relates to the two parties' operations in Asia, India, the Middle East and Australasia for the supply of plasterboard, ceiling tiles and ancillary building products such as metal studs and tracks, metal ceiling grids and metal ceiling battens.
The Commission found no significant overlap between USG and Boral in the plasterboard and ceiling tile markets and therefore focused its investigation on the supply of metal building products because the proposed joint venture would give USG Corporation an interest in Rondo Building Services Pty Ltd. At present, both USG and Rondo supply a range of metal building products in New Zealand.
The Commission was satisfied that the proposed joint venture will not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in separate markets for the supply of metal studs and tracks, metal ceiling battens and metal ceiling grid.
"In all three of these markets, the proposed joint venture would face competition from a number of different suppliers including both domestic manufacturers and importers," said Commerce Commission chairman Mark Berry.
