Decision Nº M/06/072 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2006-11-13

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Parties: Apax Partners,Incisive Media
• Date: 13 November 2006
• Decision Number: M/06/072
• Status: Cleared (Phase 1)
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Ireland)
• Decision Date: 13 November 2006

Merger Notification M/06/072– Apax Partners/Incisive Media

DETERMINATION OF MERGER NOTIFICATION M/06/072 –

APAX PARTNERS/INCISIVE MEDIA

Section 21 of the Competition Act 2002

Proposed acquisition by Apax Partners Holdings Limited o f

Incisive Media plc

Dated 13/11/06

Introduction

1. On 27 October 2006, the Competition Authority (“the Authority”), in

accordance with Section 18(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (“the

Act”), was notified on a mandatory basis of a proposal whereby

Apax Partners Holdings Limited (“Apax Partners”) would acquire

sole control of Incisive Media plc (“Incisive Media”).

The Undertakings Involved

2. Apax Partners, the acquirer, is a private equity investment group

and the parent company of a number of companies that provide

investment management and investment advisory services to

private equity funds mainly in Europe in a range of industry sectors.

Apax Partners is active in publication through two of its portfolio

companies:

(a) PCM Uitgevers is a Dutch language publisher that is active in

the publication of national and regional newspapers, as well

as, medical and educational books in the Netherlands; and

(b) World Directories is a producer of telephone directories in

Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Puerto

Rico and South Africa.

3.

Incisive Media, the target, is a provider of business information

through newsletters, magazines, books, conferences and

exhibitions, websites and databases to target audiences.

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Analysis

4. While the und ertakings involved are both generally active in the

publication sector, there is no overlap in their products in the State.

Incisive m edia is mainly involved in the provision of business information

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The current activities carried out by Incisive Media do not constitute a “Media Business” as defined

under the Competition Act, 2002.