Owner of Honolulu Star-Bulletin gets green light to purchase rival The Honolulu Advertiser
By APTuesday, April 27, 2010
Purchase of Hawaii newspaper gets green light
HONOLULU — The U.S. Justice Department has given the owner of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin the go-head to buy longtime rival The Honolulu Advertiser, the largest newspaper in Hawaii, from Gannett Co.
The two papers will be consolidated, likely resulting in layoffs. The merged newspaper is expected to be called the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The Justice Department said Tuesday it has closed its investigation in the matter.
Owner David Black put the Star-Bulletin up for sale in March to satisfy antitrust requirements.
At least two suitors submitted failed bids. One bid sought the Hawaii newspaper MidWeek, which wasn’t for sale, and another was below the minimum liquidation price.
Star-Bulletin publisher Dennis Francis has said merging the papers would lead to layoffs. But he said the company hasn’t decided how many or where the layoffs would come from.
