The ACCC announced on 18 April 2007 that it would not oppose the Fairfax / Rural Press merger, subject to Fairfax undertaking to divest two free community newspapers in Newcastle and the lower Hunter Valley.
The ACCC examined the possible effects of the merger in relation to the supply of advertising opportunities to advertisers, the supply of content to consumers, and the acquisition of content from content providers in the geographic areas of Canberra, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, and Hawkesbury. (For more information, see the Public Competition Assessment dated 27 April 2007.)
According to the Fairfax Media chairman, the merged entity will be Australia’s ‘largest integrated metropolitan, regional and rural print, online and digital media business.’
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For information regarding possible implications for your business, contact a member of the Competition & Market Regulation team.