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