ALMA LITTERA AUTHORISED TO ACQUIRE SHARES OF THE BALTOS LANKOS BOOK STORE

The Competition Council resolved to authorise UAB Alma Littera to implement the concentration deal by acquiring 100 percent holding of UAB Baltos lankos book store according to the submitted notification having concluded that the intended concentration deal will not create or strengthen any dominant position, or cause any significant restriction of competition in the relevant markets. Having assessed the current situation in the markets for publication of books, also the wholesale and retail markets for trading in books the Competition Council assessed the intended concentration deal as horizontal in the relevant market for retail trade in books. Although the concentration degree in the market concerned changes just by slightly more than 10 percentage points, having assessed the degree of concentration and the absence of any significant market entry barriers the Competition Council resolved to authorise the acquisition of shares of UAB Baltos lankos book store by UAB Alma Littera.

In this particular concentration case UAB Alma Littera acquires only the shares of the UAB Baltos lankos book store (of 4 outlets of the chain operating in the Akropolis trading centres in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda and Šiauliai). Since the associated entities – the printing and the import-export branches of UAB Baltos lankos are not covered by the transaction, the companies will continue their operations free from any restrictions inherent to the wholesale market of trading in books.

The assessment of the situation in the retail market for trading in books allowed the conclusion that following the concentration deal the market share held by UAB Alma Littera will be significant, without, however, creating or strengthening a dominant position or causing any significant weakening of competition. UAB Šviesa manages a chain of book stores Pegasas (32 outlets throughout Lithuania) and the internet book trading portal Knygų klubas. The retail market in book trading includes specialised book stores, trade centres and other book trading channels (book clubs, internet, etc.), as well as direct sales facilities. The four major trading networks managing a significant share of the retail trading in books responded to the survey inquiries that they cooperate with both wholesalers and publishers. As earlier pointed, the costs and time needs related to the entry into the retail book-trading market are relative insignificant.