12 March 2025 – The Lithuanian Competition Council has announced its intention to appeal the Regional Administrative Court’s decision to annul the extension of interim measures against Estonian company MM Grupp, which is under investigation for a potential breach of competition law.
The case revolves around MM Grupp’s alleged implementation of a market concentration without obtaining the necessary approval from the Competition Council. On 9 January 2025, the regulator extended the provisional measures imposed on MM Grupp for an additional three months. These measures aimed to ensure that MM Grupp’s management of Forum Cinemas, a company it allegedly acquired without authorization, would not negatively impact competition in the cinema market.
However, on 10 March 2025, MM Grupp successfully challenged this decision in the Regional Administrative Court, which ruled in its favor. In response, the Competition Council has stated that it will escalate the matter to the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania, arguing that maintaining the interim measures is necessary to prevent significant and irreparable harm to market competition.
Key Concerns of the Competition Council
- MM Grupp allegedly acquired Forum Cinemas without regulatory approval, which could disrupt fair competition in the Lithuanian cinema market.
- The interim measures require MM Grupp to manage Forum Cinemas’ assets and business in a way that maintains their economic viability, marketability, and competitiveness.
- Lifting these restrictions prematurely could lead to potential anti-competitive effects, harming both consumers and competitors.
The Supreme Administrative Court’s decision on the appeal will be closely watched, as it could set an important precedent for competition law enforcement in Lithuania. If the Competition Council’s appeal is successful, MM Grupp may be required to continue complying with the interim restrictions until a final ruling on the alleged competition law violation is reached.
