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UK CMA to probe Trinity Mirror purchase of Express, Star titles
The UK's competition watchdog on Wednesday said it was launching a formal investigation into Trinity Mirror's £126m purchase of Northern & Shell's Express and Star newspapers.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned on March 1 that it was looking into whether the tie-up harmed competition. Trinity owns the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The People and Scotland's Daily Record and Sunday Mail.
At the time the CMA said it had concerns that the titles within the merged group had "ceased to be distinct". Both firms were warned not to integrate further until the authority had investigated further.
On Wednesday, the CMA said it would now "assess whether this deal could significantly reduce competition within the UK media sector" and make a decision by June 7.
It added that the investigation has been brought to the attention of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, as there may be "public interest considerations".