The Commerce Commission has cleared Australian Consolidated Press NZ Ltd (ACP) to buy two magazines published by Wilson and Horton, the Listener and New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Commission Deputy Chairman Peter Allport said the Commission's main concern had been to determine what impact the acquisition would have on advertisers' access to advertising media.
The Commission found that magazines make up no more than eight percent of the advertising market and advertisers would have other options available to them if ACP refused them access or increased its prices.
Other options already used include newspapers, inserts, direct marketing, household mail drops and electronic media. Advertisers unhappy with ACP could change the mix of advertising they already use.
Some general interest magazines would still not be owned by ACP, other magazines could reposition themselves and new entry to the market is possible, though difficult.
Mr Allport said the proposed acquisition would lead to considerable aggregation in the weekly women's magazine market segment and some in the lifestyle magazine segment, but would not lead to ACP acquiring or strengthening a dominant position.
While the Commission has cleared the proposal, the parties have not yet signed a formal agreement.
Media contact: Communications Officer Vincent Cholewa
