Merger Update

5 May 2006 12:00

Office of Fair Trading05 May 2006 Merger Reference: The OFT has decided, on the information currently available to it, to refer thefollowing merger to the Competition Commission under the provisions of theEnterprise Act 2002: COMPLETED ACQUISITION BY JOHNSTON PRESS PLC OF LOCAL PRESS LTD The text of this decision will be placed on the Office of Fair Trading's website at www.oft.gov.uk and will also appear in the Office's Weekly Gazette assoon as is reasonably practicable. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange