AUTHORISATION TO ACQUIRE SHARES OF ELTA, THE LITHUANIAN NEWS AGENCY

The session of the Competition Council examined the application for the authorisation of concentration filed on 2005-09-07 by UAB Respublikos investicija and UAB Žinių partneriai by acquiring, respectively, 39.51 % and 60.49 % shares of the AB Lithuanian news agency ELTA and authorised the concentration in accordance with the submitted notification. It has been established that the intended concentration will not result in creation or strengthening of a dominant position or a significant lessening of competition in the relevant markets for newspaper publishing and printing, provision of advertising services, news and information.

According to the applicants, the intended concentration is expedient in its potential to generate financial yield from the forthcoming investment which will facilitate expansion of the scope of activity, and acquisition of the long-term financial assets managed by the AB ELTA.