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34/99
22 December 1999
COMPETITION COMMISSION INVITES
EVIDENCE ON THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF NEWSCOM TITLES TO JOHNSTON PRESS
AND TO TRINITY MIRROR
Kim Howells, Minister for Consumer and Corporate Affairs,
DTI, has asked the Competition Commission to inquire into the proposed
transfer of the newspaper titles and related assets of which News Communications
& Media plc (Newscom) was a newspaper proprietor as at 16 December
1999, to Johnston Press plc and to Trinity Mirror.
The Commission will consider whether the proposed transfers
may be expected to operate against the public interest. The Commission
has been asked to make its report to the Secretary of State for Trade
and Industry by 13 March 2000. The report will be published at a later
date.
The Commission would like to hear from all interested
parties, in writing, by 14 January 2000. To submit evidence or obtain
a copy of the full terms of reference, please write to:
The Reference Secretary (Newscom)
Competition Commission
New Court
48 Carey Street
London
WC2A 2JT
The Group of Commissioners conducting the inquiry will
be chaired by Mr Graham Corbett CBE, a Deputy Chairman of the Competition
Commission. The other members are Roger Lyons and Peter Mackay, plus Gerry
Holbrook, a member of the newspaper panel appointed by the Secretary of
State. Owing to a conflict of interest, Charles Wilson, whose appointment
to the Newsquest/Newscom inquiry was announced on 17 December, has stood
down from the group.
Notes for Editors
- This reference was made under sections 57(3), 58 and 59 of the Fair
Trading Act (see DTI Press Notice P/99/1034)
- The reference into the proposed acquisition of Newscom by Newsquest
(Investments Limited) was referred on 17 December 1999 (see DTI Press
Notice P/99/1034)
Group Members
Mr G Corbett (Chairman)
Mr R Lyons
Mr P Mackay
Mr
G Holbrook
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