NMa clears merger of directories

On 29 August the Dutch competition authority (NMa) has cleared the acquisition of the Dutch directory publisher Gouden Gids, part of Truvo by European Directories, publisher of Dutch directory De Telefoongids. As a result of the merger the paper and online directories of De Telefoongids and Gouden Gids will be merged. De Telefoongids and Gouden Gids are the only two national, door-to-door distributed, directories in the Netherlands. The NMa cleared the merger after a detailed Second Phase inquiry. RBB provided economic expertise throughout the first and second phase inquiry of the NMa to both parties alongside Clifford Chance (counsel to European Directories) and Howrey (counsel to Truvo). For more information please see the press release of the NMa:http://www.nmanet.nl/engels/home/News_and_publications/News_and_press_releases/Press_2008/08-24_NMa_green_light_to_acquisition_Yellow_Pages_Netherlands_by_De_Telefoongids.asp