Decision Nº M/04/025 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2004-05-28

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Parties: Roscommon Herald,Thomas Crosbie Holdings
• Submitted Date: 23 April 2004
• Date: 28 May 2004
• Decision Date: 28 May 2004
• Status: Preliminary investigation (Phase 1)
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Ireland)
• Decision Number: M/04/025

1

Determination No. M/04/025 of the Competition Authority, dated 28th May 2004,

under Section 21 of the Competition Act, 2002

Notification No. M/04/025 – Proposal by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited to

acquire Roscommon Herald Limited

Introduction

1. On 23rd April 2004 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 Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited (TCH) would acquire

Roscommon Herald Limited. The Authority informed the parties and the

Minister that it considers the proposed transaction to be a media merger within

the meaning of section 23 of the Competition Act 2002. On 28th April 2004, the

Authority requested information within the meaning of section 20(2) of the Act,

which information was furnished on 5th May.

The Parties

2. TCH is a holding company, which publishes daily and weekly national and

regional newspaper titles: Irish Examiner, The Sunday Business Post, Evening

Echo, Western People, Kildare Nationalist, Laois Nationalist, The Nationalist,

Waterford News & Star, The Kingdom, Sligo Weekender, Newry Democrat,

Down Democrat and The Irish Post.

3. Roscommon Herald is a weekly newspaper publication, the majority circulation

of which is achieved in the Connacht region.

Analysis

4. Although TCH owns two other weekly newspapers which are circulated in the

Connacht region, namely Sligo Weekender and Western People, the circulation

of these is primarily centred in Sligo and Mayo respectively, whereas the

Roscommon Herald is circulated primarily in Roscommon. Moreover there are a

sufficient number of other weekly publications in the Connacht region to exercise

a competitive constraint on TCH. These publications include Connacht Tribune,

Roscommon Champion, Sligo Champion and Mayo News. Therefore the

transaction does not give rise to concerns.