Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears PCM and Wegener newspaper joint venture, subject to conditions

The European Commission on 7 July 2005 cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of a joint venture between Dutch newspaper publishers PCM Holding ('PCM') and Koninklijke Wegener ('Wegener') through the combination of some of their newspapers. The joint venture was planning to publish a new national daily with local editions in the Randstad region. To avoid competition concerns arising from possible co-ordination of Wegener with PCM and the joint venture in the sale of advertising space, Wegener committed not to sell national advertisement space jointly with the joint venture or with PCM. In light of this commitment, the European Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.