Brussels, 26/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 June, the European Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of Plus Élelmiszer Diszkont Kft, a Hungarian discount retailer, by the Austrian retailer Spar. The Commission's examination of the proposed transaction concentrated on food retail and procurement markets for everyday consumer products. It showed that the combined firm would continue to face several strong and effective competitors in food retail with significant market shares both at national and local levels. The Commission found that on the procurement markets the proposed transaction would not lead to a significant increase of buyer power for the combined firm vis-à-vis its suppliers (i.e. the combined entity would not be in a position to influence its suppliers' prices). The conclusion, then, was that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it. (O.L./transl.rt)