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US: Feds warn antitrust issues in California newspaper auction

By  |  March 16, 2016

The Justice Department has warned that a potential bid by Tribune Publishing to purchase The Orange County Register could violate antitrust laws.

The Orange County Register reported Tuesday that Assistant Attorney General William J. Baer sent a letter to Freedom Communication saying the agency would exercise “antitrust law enforcement responsibilities” to ensure newspaper readers and advertisers were not adversely affected by a sale to Tribune, which publishes the Los Angeles Times and Union-Tribune in San Diego.

The letter comes ahead of the planned auction of Freedom’s assets on Wednesday.

Other potential buyers include Digital First Media and an investor group led by Freedom’s current management team.

Full Content: Los Angeles Times

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