The Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority, has granted clearance for the acquisition of Ostfriesischer Kurier GmbH and Soltau-Kurier-Vertrieb GmbH by NOZ/mh:n Mediengruppe. This decision was made during a preliminary review process.

The target companies publish the 'Ostfriesischer Kurier' and 'Norderneyer Badezeitung', which are local daily newspapers distributed in northern East Frisia.

NOZ/mh:n Mediengruppe is known for distributing the regional daily newspaper 'Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung' in northwestern Germany, as well as the local newspaper 'Rheiderland Zeitung' in southern East Frisia.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, stated that the acquisition poses no competitive concerns, as the distribution areas of the newspapers involved do not overlap, meaning they are not direct competitors.

In mergers involving newspaper publishers, the Bundeskartellamt regularly examines the impact on both readership and advertising markets, assessing whether sufficient alternatives are available for readers and advertisers. However, the diversity of opinion is not a criterion for antitrust evaluation.