Commission extends TelstraSaturn-Clear deadline

The Commerce Commission has extended the deadline for deciding whether the TelstraSaturn-Clear merger should go ahead.

TelstraSaturn lodged an application with the commission on November 6 seeking clearance to do the deal and the standard time for processing such an application is 10 working days.

However, the date can be extended by mutual agreement between the commission and the applicant and has been done so, to December 7, spokesperson Jackie Maitland says.

The criterion for whether TelstraSaturn's buyout of Clear should be allowed is whether it would result in a substantial lessening of competition in the telecommunications sector, says Geoff Thorn, director of the commission's business competition branch.