Invitation to comment: Public interest test on the completed acquisition by Daily Mail and General Trust plc of JPI Media Publications Limited and thus the ‘i’ newspaper

On 21 January 2020, the Secretary of State issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice (“PIIN”) concerning the acquisition by Daily Mail and General Trust plc (“DMGT”) of JPI Media Publications Limited (“JPI Media Publications”). The assets of JPI Media Publications include the ‘i’ UK national newspaper and website.

The Secretary of State has asked Ofcom to report on whether this acquisition could raise public interest concerns in relation to the need for, to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable, a sufficient plurality of views in newspapers in each market for newspapers in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom.

Please find below our guidance note setting out the process and timetable for preparing our report and our invitation to comment.