Aberdeen Journals Ltd: remitted case

No. CA98/14/2002

A decision regarding this case dated 16 July 2001 was appealed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal on 17 September 2001. On 19 March 2002 the Competition Appeal Tribunal set aside the OFT's decision and remitted the matter to the OFT for further consideration. For further details see Competition Appeal Tribunal website. The OFT subsequently made this decision in relation to this case on 29 September 2002. This decision replaces the OFT's previous decision dated 16 July 2001. This later decision was appealed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal on 18 November 2002. On 23 June 2003 the Competition Appeal Tribunal upheld the OFT's decision on liability. For further details see Competition Appeal Tribunal website.

25 September 2002

The Aberdeen & District Independent newspaper complained that Aberdeen Journals Limited was predating in the pricing of advertising space in its Aberdeen Herald & Post newspaper. Aberdeen Journals is owned by Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd, itself part of the Daily Mail & General Trust group.

Aberdeen Journals is dominant in the market for the supply of advertising space in local newspapers (paid-for and free) within the Aberdeen area.

Aberdeen Journals has deliberately incurred losses on the Aberdeen Herald & Post in an attempt to expel the Aberdeen & District Independent, its only rival in the relevant market. Aberdeen Journals has therefore infringed the Chapter II prohibition by predating. A penalty of £1,328,040 is imposed.

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