Decision Nº M/03/040 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2004-01-16

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Date: 16 January 2004
• Submitted Date: 17 December 2003
• Decision Number: M/03/040
• Parties: Alpha Newspaper Group,Midland Tribune
• Decision Date: 16 January 2004
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Determination of the Competition Authority

Determination No. M/03/041 of the Competition Authority, dated 16th January

2004, under Section 21 of the Competition Act, 2002

Notification No. M/03/041 – The proposed acquisition by Alpha Publications

Limited of all the issued share capital of Midland Tribune Printing Limited

Introduction

1. On 17th December 2003 date the Competition Authority, in accordance with

Section 18 (1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (“the Act”) was notified, on a

mandatory basis, of a proposal whereby Alpha Publications Limited (APL)

would acquire all the issued share capital of Midland Tribune Printing Limited

(MTPL).

The Parties

2. APL is a private limited company recently incorporated in Ireland and is a wholly

owned subsidiary of Tontine Rooms Holding Company Limited (TRH), which is

incorporated in Northern Ireland. TRH trades under the name of Alpha

Newspaper Group, which is involved in newspaper publishing primarily in

Northern Ireland.

3. MPTL publishes The Midland Tribune and Tullamore Tribune, both of which are

weekly regional newspapers. MPTL also owns the titles “The Harlequin” and

“The Limerick Tribune”, which have not been published for approximately 10

years.

Analysis

4. There is no overlap in the parties’ activities as they operate in different

geographic regions. TRH’s publications are circulated primarily in Northern

Ireland. Its only circulation in the State are approximately [ ] copies of the

Ulster Gazette sold in County Monaghan and the sale of [ ] copies of the

Strabane Weekley News in East Donegal. Advertising revenues derived from

customers in the State are negligible. MPTL’s circulation revenues are derived

solely from readership in Offaly and surrounding counties. Accordingly the

transaction does not give rise to competition concerns.

Determination

The Competition Authority, in accordance with Section 21(2) of the Competition Act,

2002, has determined that, in its opinion, the result of the proposed acquisition will

not be to substantially lessen competition in markets for goods and services in the

State and, accordingly, that the acquisition may be put into effect.

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