The announcement yesterday afternoon (3 May) means that five gravure plants in Germany and Arvato's new Liverpool site will become part of one European gravure superpower.
The Commission ruled that the merger would not "significantly impede competition in the single market or in any member state".
In a joint statement, the firms welcomed the decision and revealed that Arvato board member and Maul-Belser Media Group chairman Stephan Krauss would become chief executive of the new company.
The joint venture does not include Bertelsmann's gravure facilities in Spain or Italy, or any of the groups' web offset plants. Bertelsmann owns Arvato and a 75% stake in Gruner+Jahr.
Story by Josh Brooks
Have your say in the Printweek Poll
Related stories
Latest comments
"Following content from the EcoVadis website:
<i>An EcoVadis medal or badge is NOT a certification or an endorsement of a company or its products or services, and it does not indicate that the..."
"Lee De’ath, starting to feel typecast in the insolvency department? Fancy a change in a career? Children's entertainer maybe?"
"Fantastic investment its great to see."
Up next...
59 jobs at risk
VPK to close Leeds board site
Iberia restructure follows market decline
Walstead begins consultations at Spanish gravure site
Firms embrace Prinect integration
Heidelberg names first Jetfire customers
Finishing bottlenecks cleared