On 12 May 2006, the UK Competition Commission formally cleared the proposed acquisition of Ottakar's bookshops by HMV/Waterstone's. The CC accepted the parties’ arguments that the merger was unlikely to result in a reduced range of books being sold or in a deterioration in service quality. Concerns regarding higher prices were limited by intense competition from supermarket and internet retailers. The Commission was also satisfied that the merger would not give rise to harmful effects in the procurement market for new books.RBB advised HMV Group during both the OFT and Competition Commission stages of the merger process, working closely with Simmons & Simmons throughout.
Our experience and expertise means our clients have the best chance of success before competition authorities and courts.
We have unrivalled experience across the full range of issues presented by competition law and related associated litigation.
Articles
All Articles- 09/10/2026 Enrique Cañizares and Valerio Sodano have contributed the opening chapter to the recently published book Competencia y regulación en mercados digitales
- 01/10/2026 European Commission clears Kesko’s acquisition of Dahl
- 29/09/2026 Bundeskartellamt unconditionally clears Kemira’s acquisition of Sidra after Phase II review
