Marquard Media, a publishing house, may take over a number of titles owned by Axel Springer Polska, while Axel may purchase a daily newspaper and a web portal from Marquard. In the opinion of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, these transactions will not have any negative effect on competition

Having conducted anti-monopoly proceedings, the Office issued two decisions. They concerned transactions as a result of which Marquard Media will purchase 5 women magazines - “Olivia”, “Pani Domu”, “Pani Domu Poleca”, “Cienie i Blaski” and “Sekrety Serca”, now owned by Axel Springer. The German publisher will in turn acquire from Marquard Media the rights to the “Przegląd Sportowy” daily, with its supplements “Tempo - Magazyn Motoryzacyjny” and “Skarb Kibica”, as well as the sports.pl web portal.

According to the President of UOKiK, clearing the transactions according to the enterprises’ applications will not result in lessening of competition and is, therefore, fully justified.

At the same time, please be informed that on April 21st, new Act on competition and consumer protection entered into force. The Act introduces i.a. an increase of the turnover thresholds over which a merger or acquisition must obtain clearance from the President of UOKiK. Under the existing law, a transaction must be notified to UOKiK if it involves enterprises whose aggregate turnover exceeded the equivalent of EUR 1 billion world-wide or EUR 50 million in Poland in the preceding year. 

Additional information:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. (+48 22) 55 60 106, 55 60 314
faks (+48 22) 826 11 86
E-mail mcieloch@uokik.gov.pl