The Agency for Protection of Competition of the Republic of Croatia has approved Spar Austria's takeover of Billa supermarkets in the country.
According to the research on the state of the retail market for 2015 and the data submitted by Spar Austria, the combined market share after the merger in Croatia will be below 10%.
Spar will have somewhat higher market share in the capital Zagreb (20-30%) and the Osijek-Baranja and Karlovac counties (10-20%).
As a result of the takeover of Billa stores, Spar will expand its retail business to the following counties: Bjelovar-Bilogora, Pozega-Slavonia, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem and Istria.
The concentration will have no effect in the Dubrovnik-Neretva, Krapina-Zagorje or Lika-Senj counties.
No comments were submitted by interested parties during the public consultation process on the merger.
The Antitrust Authority points out that the local retail market is dynamic and features a large number of competitors of varying market power. It also believes that the implementation of the deal will further reduce asymmetries in the retail market and strengthen competition.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
