Appeal Court told $200M price tag for rejected NZME/Stuff merger is 'price of working democracy'

Appeal Court told $200M price tag for rejected NZME/Stuff merger is 'price of working democracy'
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot June 6 (BusinessDesk) - The Commerce Commission's lawyers began their defence today against a second appeal by NZME and Stuff over the regulator's refusal of their attempted merger, arguing that an informed society was worth the $200 million price tag the media companies have put on the rejected deal. Last May, the Commerce Commission declined to clear or authorise the merger between New Zealand's two dominant newspaper publishers, arguing it would concentrate too much media influence in one entity. The subsequent appeal by...