Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Reuters by Thomson subject to conditions

On 19 february, 2008, the European Commission cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the UK-based Reuters Group by Thomson Corporation of Canada, subject to conditions and obligations. The Commission’s in-depth investigation, opened in October 2007 (see IP/07/1460), indicated that the concentration, as originally notified, could have led to a substantial impediment of effective competition in several markets of the financial information sector. The parties submitted commitments which have removed the Commission’s competition concerns and are suitable to restore effective competition in the Single Market.