THE COMPETITION COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA TERMINATED THE EXAMINATION OF CONCENTRATION

The Competition Council informs that UAB “Fragrances international” withdrew its notification of concentration acquiring 49 percent of SIA Douglas Baltic shares. On this basis, the Competition Council terminated the examination of concentration.

The specialists of the Competition Council, having preliminary assessed the concentration, determined that after the implementation of concentration the competition in the market would be significantly lessened, since UAB „Fragrances International“ (the associated company UAB “Kristiana” is engaged in the retail sale of cosmetics and perfumery products) would acquire control of SIA Douglas Baltic (the associated company of which is also engaged in the retail sale of cosmetics and perfumery products in Lithuania), the major competitor of UAB “Kristiana”.

Due to reduced competition consumers may be at risk of losing the benefits of competition, such as possibility to purchase goods at a lower price or have a variety of choices.

Supervision of concentration

(1) Concentration – a merger or acquisition of control of another company.

(2) If the turnover of the companies participating in concentration exceeds the limits established in Article 8 of the Law on Competition, the concentration can be implemented only with the permission of the Competition Council.

(3) Upon completing the examination of the notification, the Competition Council adopts a decision to permit the implementation of concentration or to permit the implementation of concentration in accordance with the conditions and obligations established by the Competition Council which are necessary to prevent the creation or strengthening of a dominant position or a substantial restriction of competition in a relevant market, or to refuse to grant permission to implement concentration if the concentration would result in creation or strengthening of a dominant position or substantial restriction of competition in a relevant market.

Communication Division