BIG BANG/SANCTA DOMENICA merger approved

Based on the data from the received notification the concentration in question will produce effects in the consumer electronics retail in the territory of the Republic of Croatia and the consumer electronics wholesale in the EEA.

Considering that the acquirer BIG BANG has not been present in the retail consumer electronics market in the Republic of Croatia before (only in the Republic of Slovenia), there will be no changes in the market structure concerned.

Based on the complete notification of concentration, the defined structure of the relevant market, the post-merger market share of the parties to the concentration, expected effects of the concentration in the form of benefits for the consumers, as well as other data and findings, the CCA found that it can be reasonably presumed that this concrete concentration will not produce any anticompetitive effects. Namely, the assessment indicated a fragmented market with significant presence of national distributors and exports which will in the post-merger period ensure significant competitive constraints both in the retail and in the wholesale market and consequently, this is expected not to have significant effect on end users.

After the CCA received the complete notification of concentration it published on its official website the request for information from all interested parties with the view to receiving further written comments and explanations with respect to the concentration at issue. No replies to this request for information were submitted to the CCA within the prescribed deadline.

Taking everything into account, the notified concentration was cleared in the first phase.