Competition regulator to probe RELX takeover of legal publisher

The UK’s competition watchdog said it would review the potential takeover by LexisNexis owner RELX of Jordan Publishers.

The Completion and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would consider whether the acquisition by Reed Elsevier, the trading name of RELX Plc, of privately owned legal publisher Jordan’s assets would substantially lessen competition within the United Kingdom.

Reed, which has not disclosed the takeover price, said Jordan’s titles were complementary to its own.

“While LexisNexis will continue to offer Jordan Publishing’s portfolio of print titles, the value of this transaction to customers is expected to unfold in the evolution of online,” Reed said when it announced the takeover.

The regulator would decide say whether a phase two investigation was required in September.

Shares in Reed were down 0.45% to 1,009p at 0230 BST.