Bauer Media Group merger inquiry

The CMA is investigating the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
7 August 2019
Last updated
10 July 2020 — See all updates
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Communications
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 clearance with remedies
Opened:
5 August 2019
Closed:
1 June 2020

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 7 August 2019

Statutory deadline: 17 March 2020

Contact

BauerMedia-inquiries@cma.gov.uk

Case closure summary

1 June 2020: The CMA accepted final undertakings from Bauer. This brings the merger investigation to a close.

Final undertakings

1 June 2020: The CMA has accepted final undertakings and the reference has now been fully determined.

Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings

24 April 2020: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments by 5pm on 8 May 2020.

Revocation of phase 1 initial enforcement orders

14 April 2020: The CMA revoked the Initial Enforcement Orders in relation to the acquisition by Bauer Radio Group Limited of certain assets of the Celador Entertainment Limited business on 1 March, certain assets of the Lincs FM Group Limited business on 1 March 2019, and of UKRD Group Limited on 12 March 2019 and Scala Radio LP of certain assets of Wireless Group Limited business on 1 March 2019.

Final report

Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies

Provisional findings

5 December 2019: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited.

4 February 2020: The provisional findings addendum outlines the Group’s revisions to the provisional SLC findings in the provisional findings report.

Evidence

The publication of the evidence of any party on the CMA’s webpages does not indicate in any way endorsement by the CMA of the views expressed in the evidence or acceptance of that evidence. Publication in this way is designed to assist public understanding of the issues.

Hearing summaries

Response to issues statement

Response to phase 1 decision

Merger notice

Issues statement

4 September 2019: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.

22 October 2019: The issues statement addendum outlines an additional theory on what might be adversely affecting competition to those identified previously in the issues statement, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.

Inquiry Group appointed

9 August 2019: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:

Stuart McIntosh (Chair), Maria Da Cunha, Keith Richards and David Thomas.

Terms of reference

7 August 2019: The CMA has referred the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited for an in-depth investigation.

Phase 1

Reference decision

7 August 2019: The CMA has referred the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited for an in-depth investigation.

For all information related to the phase 1 inquiries (including amendments/consents to the initial enforcement orders granted since the reference decision), see the following CMA inquiry webpages:

Please note that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the CMA’s offices across the UK are closed until further notice. We are no longer able to accept delivery of any documents or correspondence by post or courier to any of our offices.

Published 7 August 2019
Last updated 10 July 2020 + show all updates

  1. Case closure summary published.

  2. Notice to accept final undertakings published.

  3. Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings published.

  4. Revocation order published.

  5. Final report published.

  6. Provisional findings addendum published.

  7. Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies published.

  8. Administrative timetable updated.

  9. Published: Provisional findings, appendices and glossary, notice of provisional findings, notice of possible remedies and notice of extension.

  10. Note of hearing with Global published.

  11. Summary of calls with customers of First Radio Sales published.

  12. Issues statement addendum published.

  13. Published: Bauer's response to issues statement, Bauer's response to phase 1 decision, UKRD merger notice and a hearing summary with Ofcom

  14. Issues statement and administrative timetable published.

  15. Full text of the decision to refer published.

  16. Inquiry group appointed and Terms of reference published.

  17. First published.

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