Immediate Media Company Bristol / Future Publishing merger inquiry

The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the completed acquisition by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited of certain assets of Future Publishing Limited.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
7 July 2015
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Communications
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 1 clearance with undertakings in lieu
Opened:
21 July 2014
Closed:
6 January 2015

Statutory timetable

Phase 1 date Action
6 January 2015 Undertakings in lieu accepted
31 October 2014 Decision published
23 October 2014 Decision announced
28 August 2014 Launch of merger inquiry
28 August to 11 September 2014 Invitation to comment
21 July 2014 Initial enforcement order

Phase 1

Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted

6 January 2015: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference under the Enterprise Act 2002 for the completed acquisition by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited of a number of magazines from Future Publishing Limited. As a result, the merger will not be referred for a phase 2 investigation. A copy of the CMA’s decision and the undertakings is available below.

Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation: Now closed

10 December 2014: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the completed acquisition by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited of a number of magazines from Future Publishing Limited.

CMA to consider undertakings offered

6 November 2014: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Immediate Media, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. A copy of the notice is available below:

Reference unless undertakings accepted

23 October 2014: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This merger will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless Immediate offers acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns. The full text of the decision is available below:

Invitation to comment: Now closed

28 August 2014: The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

Initial enforcement order

21 July 2014: An initial enforcement order under Section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 was put in place against Immediate Media Company Limited and Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited by the CMA. A copy of the order can be found below:

Amendments/consents granted:

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:

Peter Swan
Competition and Markets Authority
Victoria House
37 Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4AD

peter.swan@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Published 7 July 2015

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