Bauer Media Group merger inquiry
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-03)

The CMA is investigating the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited.

Phase 2

Administrative timetable

Date of referral: 7 August 2019

Statutory deadline: 17 March 2020
- Administrative timetable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5dfc9f4240f0b6656d53de25/bauer_media_group_administrative_timetable.pdf) (updated 20.12.19)
Contact

xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Case closure summary

1 June 2020: The CMA accepted final undertakings from Bauer. This brings the merger investigation to a close.
- Case closure summary (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f0832413a6f40041036a317/Bauer_Closure_Notice.pdf) (10.7.20)
Final undertakings

1 June 2020: The CMA has accepted final undertakings and the reference has now been fully determined.
- Notice to accept final undertakings (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ed4c09186650c76b148ad22/Bauer_-_Final_Undertakings_-_for_publication_---_pdf_a.pdf) (1.6.20)
- Appointment of monitoring trustee (PDF, 118KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683dc0c0a9b2749a8095e080/__Bauer_Media_Group_appointment_of_monitoring_trustee.pdf) (3.6.25)
Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings

24 April 2020: The CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments by 5pm on 8 May 2020.
- Notice of proposal to accept final undertakings (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ea2d185d3bf7f7b4e0004e7/Bauer_-_Notice_of_Proposal_to_Accept_Final_Undertakings_-_for_publication.pdf) (24.4.20)
- Bauer draft final undertakings (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ea2d1a5e90e07048f4ac80d/Bauer_-_Draft__Final_Undertakings_20_April_2020_-_for_publication.pdf) (24.4.20)
Revocation of phase 1 initial enforcement orders

14 April 2020: The CMA revoked the Initial Enforcement Orders in relation to the acquisition by Bauer Radio Group Limited of certain assets of the Celador Entertainment Limited business on 1 March, certain assets of the Lincs FM Group Limited business on 1 March 2019, and of UKRD Group Limited on 12 March 2019 and Scala Radio LP of certain assets of Wireless Group Limited business on 1 March 2019.
- Revocation order (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e96c3a1d3bf7f41214d845c/Revocation_Order_-_14.04.20_-_.pdf) (15.4.20)
Final report
- Final report (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e6a3205d3bf7f269dbeeef5/Bauer_final_report.pdf) (12.3.20)
- Appendices and glossary (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e6a323886650c72777f055d/Bauer_final_report_Appendices_and_glossary_-_version_for_publication_-_Final_Redacted.pdf) (12.3.20)
- News story: Final decision published in radio merger inquiry (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/final-decision-published-in-radio-merger-inquiry) (12.3.20)
Responses to provisional findings and possible remedies
- Bauer’s response to notice of possible remedies (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e26e7e1e5274a6c3a3c68b5/Bauer_response_to_remedies_notice__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Bauer’s response to provisional findings (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e26e79540f0b62c538debe6/Bauer_response_to_PFs__for_publication__-_final_version.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Summary of all responses to remedies by customers of FRS (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e271274e5274a6c3dcff58c/Summary_of_all_responses_to_remedies_notice_by_customers_of_FRS2.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Dee Radio Group (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e270c74ed915d1f1c13f6a2/Dee_Radio_Group_s_views_on_possible_remedies_and_PFs__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- KM Group (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e27091de5274a6c44d68197/KM_Group_views_on_remedies_notice__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Credible Media (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e2708f440f0b62c54df7fd7/Credible_Media_views_on_possible_remedies__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- FR customer 1 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e2708d5e5274a6c38aae2ea/FRS_customer_1_response_to_remedies_notice__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Nation (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e26e85340f0b62c5029d594/Nation_response_to_remedies_notice__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Communicorp (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e26e82ce5274a6c44d68192/Communicorp_response_to_PFs__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
- Global (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e26e80c40f0b62c4b0f0a26/Global_response_to_PFs_and_remedies_notice__for_publication_.pdf) (22.1.20)
Provisional findings

5 December 2019: The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns as part of its in-depth investigation of the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited.

Provisional findings (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5de8eb7740f0b60885df4c1f/Provisional_findings_bauer_media_investigation.pdf) (5.12.19)

Appendices and glossary (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5de8ea12ed915d09dc93a81c/Appendices_and_glossary_bauer_media_investigation.pdf) (5.12.19)

Notice of provisional findings (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5de8d5e8e5274a06da7b82ee/notice_of_provisional_findings.pdf) (5.12.19)

Notice of possible remedies (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5de8ce68e5274a06e1c59a47/remedies_notice.pdf) (5.12.19)

Notice of extension (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5de8d67340f0b6088a125601/notice_of_extension.pdf) (5.12.19)

News story: Provisional findings published in radio merger inquiry (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/provisional-findings-published-in-radio-merger-inquiry) (5.12.19)

4 February 2020: The provisional findings addendum outlines the Group’s revisions to the provisional SLC findings in the provisional findings report.
- Provisional findings addendum (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e3982a2e5274a08f0fec415/addendum_to_provisional_findings_for_publication_-_final.pdf) (4.1.20)
Evidence

The publication of the evidence of any party on the CMA’s webpages does not indicate in any way endorsement by the CMA of the views expressed in the evidence or acceptance of that evidence. Publication in this way is designed to assist public understanding of the issues.

Hearing summaries
- Global (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5dcc075ded915d4e89985e4c/Note_of_Hearing_with_Global.pdf) (13.11.19)
Customers of First Radio Sales (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5dba80aaed915d1d040a6e0e/summary_of_calls_bauer.pdf) (31.10.19)
- Ofcom (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d960655e5274a70ca47ac38/Summary_of_hearing_with_Ofcom.pdf) (4.10.19)
Response to issues statement
- Bauer (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d95bbebed915d08dd5b5d13/Bauer_response_to_issues_statement.pdf) (4.10.19)
Response to phase 1 decision
- Bauer (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d95bc2540f0b6423169a878/Bauer_radio_response_to_phase_1_decision.pdf) (4.10.19)
Merger notice
- Merger notice (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d95bd1ced915d08e764267c/UKRD_final_merger_notice.pdf) (4.10.19)
Issues statement

4 September 2019: The issues statement sets out the scope of the inquiry. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.
- Issues statement (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d6e819eed915d53ac85a0c9/Bauer_issues_statement.pdf) (4.9.19)
22 October 2019: The issues statement addendum outlines an additional theory on what might be adversely affecting competition to those identified previously in the issues statement, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.
- Issues statement addendum (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5daec96f40f0b609bdf449e3/bauer_media_group_addendum_to_issues_statement.pdf) (22.10.19)
Inquiry Group appointed

9 August 2019: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group:

Stuart McIntosh (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/inquiry-chairs-biographies#stuart-mcintosh) (Chair), Maria Da Cunha (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#maria-da-cunha), Keith Richards (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#keith-richards) and David Thomas (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-panel-member-biographies-and-disclosures-of-interest/panel-members-biographies#david-thomas).

Terms of reference

7 August 2019: The CMA has referred the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited for an in-depth investigation.
- Terms of reference (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d4d4355e5274a5403cd2477/Bauer_-_Terms_of_Reference_-_07.08.19.pdf) (9.8.19)
Phase 1

Reference decision

7 August 2019: The CMA has referred the completed acquisitions by Bauer Media Group of certain businesses of Celador Entertainment Limited, Lincs FM Group Limited and Wireless Group Limited, as well as the entire business of UKRD Group Limited for an in-depth investigation.
- Decision to refer (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d5541dc40f0b670620e43a0/Bauer_-_Decision_to_refer_P2.pdf) (15.8.19)
For all information related to the phase 1 inquiries (including amendments/consents to the initial enforcement orders granted since the reference decision), see the following CMA inquiry webpages:
- Bauer Radio / Celador Entertainment merger inquiry (https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/bauer-radio-celador-entertainment-merger-inquiry)
- Bauer Radio / Lincs FM merger inquiry (https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/bauer-radio-lincs-fm-merger-inquiry)
- Bauer Radio / UKRD Group merger inquiry (https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/bauer-radio-ukrd-group-merger-inquiry)
- Scala Radio (part of Bauer Media Group) / Wireless Group merger inquiry (https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/scala-radio-wireless-group-merger-inquiry)
Please note that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the CMA’s offices across the UK are closed until further notice. We are no longer able to accept delivery of any documents or correspondence by post or courier to any of our offices.