You, too, can get involved with Wottakar’s

By Carmen 

So the merger’s dead. The OFT will hear the case. But what if you have something to say? Who can you write to?

The Bookseller, thankfully, comes to the rescue with the appropriate contact information:

The Competition Commission has invited all interested parties to submit evidence in relation to HMV’s proposed takeover of Ottakar’s by Friday 6th January.

The Commission has been asked to decide whether the acquisition may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the market for the retail sale of books to consumers. The move follows the Office of Fair Trading referral of the takeover to the Commission on Tuesday.

The Commission is in the process of selecting up to five members to serve on the group that will conduct the inquiry. It starts its inquiry with the information already gathered by the OFT, and will then invite evidence from HMV, Ottakar’s and third parties such as competitors, customers, suppliers, government departments, expert bodies, and trade or consumer organisations.

To submit evidence, write to: Alan Shearman, Inquiry Secretary, Competition Commission, Victoria House, Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AD or alan.shearman@cc.gsi.gov.uk.

That’s not even a month! Get scribbling…