Germany’s competition authority has fined newspaper publisher DuMont Mediengruppe €16 million (US$18.5 million) for agreeing to divide markets with rival publication Bonner General-Anzeiger Group, while also sanctioning a lawyer who helped facilitate the conspiracy.
The competition regulator accused the publishing house of having made territorial agreements with the neighboring Bonner General-Anzeiger between 2000 and 2016.
The agreement provided for one of the two publishers to withdraw from certain previously agreed territories. The agreement was secured in 2005 by DuMont’s right of first refusal on the “Bonner Generalanzeiger”. This should have been reported to the Federal Cartel Office, but this did not happen.
DuMont has cooperated in clarifying the case, according to an antitrust spokesman.
Full Content: Morgen Post
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