Decision Nº M/04/025 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2004-05-28
Jurisdiction | Ireland |
Court | Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Ireland) |
Parties | Roscommon Herald,Thomas Crosbie Holdings |
Date | 28 May 2004 |
Submitted Date | 23 April 2004 |
Status | Preliminary investigation (Phase 1) |
Decision Date | 28 May 2004 |
Decision Number | M/04/025 |
1
Determination No. M/04/025 of the Competition Authority, dated 28th May 2004,
Notification No. M/04/025 – Proposal by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited to
acquire Roscommon Herald Limited
Introduction
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.
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