WELLINGTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Sky Network Television said that if it gets regulatory clearance to buyVodafone's New Zealand unit it will not hold off on thedeal to give rival Spark NZ time to challenge theregulator's decision in court, as requested.
Sky, in a statement to the stock exchange on Thursday, saida number of parties including Spark and Trustpower hadsent it a letter asking it to hold off on the transaction if theCommerce Commission ruled in its favour so that they couldinitiate court proceedings.
The Commerce Commission is due to rule on the proposedNZ$1.3 billion ($938 million) takeover on Feb. 23 and haspreviously cited concern the deal would dampen competition fromrival broadband and mobile providers. ($1 = 1.3866 New Zealand dollars) (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Susan Fenton)