The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not intervene in the acquisition of Harris and Company Ltd by Rural Press Ltd.
Harris owns the Burnie Advocate newspaper and Rural Press and Harris each have an interest in the Launceston Examiner.
After conducting market inquiries with customers, competitors and other interested parties, the ACCC reached the view that the proposal would not amount to a substantial lessening of competition in any relevant market pursuant to section 50 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
In reaching its view, the ACCC considered the nature of the market which indicated that there was limited overlap in the geographical areas serviced by the two publications and, as such, the publications operated in largely separate and distinct markets.
The ACCC reached the conclusion that this meant there was unlikely to be any anti-competitive effect either in regard to the publication of newspapers or the provision of advertising in the relevant markets.
The ACCC noted the public stated intention by Rural Press to retain both mastheads, and a separate staff at each publication.