Tuesday, October 18, 2005

HMV to be prevented from bidding for Ottakars?

Ottakar\\\'s, the UK bookstore group, has seen book publishers move to put the brakes on an offer for it by HMV. Publishers Association president, Richard Charkin, has met with the Office of Fair Trading to push for referral of any such bid. Charkin is quoted as praising his collaborators on the effort for doing an excellent job. He also indicated that an HMV-Ottakar\\\'s group would control half the UK books market at least. Some authors have also contacted the OFT, expressing unhappiness at the prospect of such a tie-up. If the deal is referred, the HMV offer will lapse.

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