Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS NEWS: LexisNexis, Jordans Publishing deal could substantially lessen competition , (Sep 10, 2015)

By Greg Hammond, J.D.

The proposed acquisition of Jordans Publishing Limited by Reed Elsevier (UK) Limited, trading as LexisNexis, could result in a substantial lessening of competition, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined. The CMA has consequently referred the transaction for a detailed investigation unless the two companies can resolve the agency’s anticompetitive concerns.

Both LexisNexis and Jordans publish textbooks, journals, news services, and other material in print and online for the legal industry. The CMA determined that family law is the only practice area raising competition concerns, because the two publishers are close competitors in the children law, matrimonial property law, and family court reports areas, and few other suppliers are in these areas. LexisNexis and Jordans are not close competitors in other practice areas.

“The supply of legal information resources and publications is important for legal service providers, such as lawyers, barristers and the courts and judges,” stated CMA Senior Director of Mergers, Sheldon Mills. “Our investigation has found that Jordans and Reed Elsevier supply the pre-eminent legal publications in the area of family law in England and Wales. The loss of competition between these two publishers in this area could lead to higher prices or a reduction in choice and quality in the provision of information in an important area of the law. As such, this merger warrants a detailed investigation unless the parties are able to resolve the concerns we identified at this stage.”

Companies: Reed Elsevier UK Ltd.; Jordans Publishing Ltd.

News: AcquisitionsMergers Antitrust