The Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority, has granted clearance for the acquisition of the Rubens Group, which publishes local newspapers Hellweger Anzeiger and Westfälische Rundschau, by Ruhr-Nachrichten Verlag & Co. KG.

The target companies operate in several towns including Unna, Kamen, Bergkamen, Fröndenberg, and Holzwickede, providing local news and advertising services.

Ruhr-Nachrichten Verlag & Co. KG publishes various regional newspapers in the Ruhr area and Münsterland, including Ruhr-Nachrichten and Münsterland Zeitung.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, stated that the acquisition poses no competitive concerns. Although Ruhr-Nachrichten is available to subscribers in the Unna area, its coverage is not comparable to that of Hellweger Anzeiger and Westfälische Rundschau, indicating they are not direct competitors.

The Bundeskartellamt regularly examines the impact of newspaper mergers on readership and advertising markets, ensuring that sufficient alternatives are available for readers and advertisers. However, the diversity of opinion is not a criterion for antitrust assessment.