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03/00
24 January 2000
NEWSQUEST/JOHNSTON PRESS/ TRINITY MIRROR/NEWSCOM NEWSPAPER
INQUIRY
Issues statement
The Competition Commission has sent issues letters to
the main parties in its inquiry into the proposed Newsquest/Newscom,
Johnston Press/ Trinity Mirror/Newscom mergers.
An issues letter is always sent to main parties before
the Competition Commission has reached any conclusions and is designed
to highlight those matters which have been identified by the investigating
group for further consideration, and to ensure that nothing has been
missed. The statement of issues is being made public to inform all interested
parties should there be any further points they wish to raise with the
Competition Commission within the next week. No conclusions have yet
been reached by the Competition Commission about whether any matters
may be expected to operate against the public interest.
The issues the Competition Commission intends to consider
are as follows:
- The reasons for the proposed mergers and how
they would be financed and managed.
- The financial position of the merged group.
- (Whether any merger would lead to the closure of existing titles
or the launch of new ones.
- The effect on concentration of ownership of the press,
and the implications of increased concentration
for readers, advertisers, competition (including printing competition)
and the diversity
of the press in:
- the UK as a whole for both regional and local newspapers; what
should be the criteria for determining the point at which further
concentration poses a risk of detriment to the public interest;
- the various parts of Southern England where the newspapers of Newsquest,
Johnston Press and Trinity Mirror overlap with those of Newscom;
- the parts of South Wales where Trinity Mirror’s newspapers
overlap with those of Newscom.
- The effect of the merger on employment (including conditions
of employment)
- The effect on the accurate presentation of news and free expression
of opinion: in particular, the implications
for editorial independence.
- Whether cost cutting arising from any merger would affect standards
of journalism.
- The benefits of each merger, including any efficiency gains.
- In the event that any merger was expected to operate against
the public interest, what conditions (if
any) might be attached to the transfer to prevent it from so operating.
This press notice is also available on the Competition
Commission website: www.Competition-Commission.org.uk/quest.htm or
from The Reference Secretary (Newscom inquiries), room 565, New Court,
48 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JT.
Notes to Editors:
- The Newsquest/Newscom reference was made by the Secretary of State
for Trade and Industry, under section 59 of the Fair Trading Act 1973,
on 16 December 1999 (see DTI press release p/99/1034). No conclusions
will be reached about whether any matters may be expected to operate
against the public interest until the Competition Commission submits
its report to the Secretary of State on 8 March 2000.
- The Johnston Press/Newscom and Trinity Mirror/Newscom references
were made by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under section
59 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, on 21 December 1999 (see DTI press
release p/99/1049). No conclusions will be reached about whether any
matters may be expected to operate against the public interest until
the Competition Commission submits its report to the Secretary of State
on 13 March 2000.
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