CMA enquiry into Mirror/Express merger

Posted: April 11th, 2018

FOLLOWING the Competition and Markets Authority’s initial “enforcement order” on March 1, the CMA announced today (April 11, 2018) that it has launched a merger enquiry into the acquisition of certain assets of Northern & Shell Media Group Ltd by Trinity Mirror.

There’s more information on the CMA’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/trinity-mirror-northern-shell-media-group-merger-ingury

Phase 1 of the enquiry is an “invitation to comment”, and the CMA is considering “whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services”.

The deadline for comments to the CMA from any interested party is April 25, 2018.

As is usual in such circumstances, the CMA has notified the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport about the enquiry as there may be public interest considerations under the Enterprise Act.