Α full investigation procedure was initiated on April 8th 2025, according to art. 8, par. 4 of Law 3959/2011, regarding the acquisition by the company 'ALPHABET EDUCATION S.A' (ALPHABET) of exclusive control over the company 'DELTA SCHOOLS OF NORTHERN GREECE S.A' (DELTA) notified to the Hellenic Competition Commission on September 17, 2024.
ALPHABET is primarily active in the education sector: a) through the company 'AKMI Educational S.A., which provides vocational education, training, and lifelong learning services through the operation of Higher Vocational Education Schools (S.A.E.K.) and Lifelong Learning Centers (K.D.V.M.), b) through the company 'METROPOLITAN COLLEGE S.A', which provides vocational education, training, and lifelong learning services through the operation of a college and K.D.V.M.
DELTA, also, provides vocational education, training, and lifelong learning services through the operation of S.A.E.K. and K.D.V.M.
Based on the preliminary assessment of the concentration, the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC), primarily and based on the available data, estimates that the notified concentration raises serious doubts regarding its compatibility with the requirements for the functioning of competition in the specific markets it concerns, namely the market for the provision of vocational training services through private S.A.E.K. in Attica, Thessaloniki, and Volos (overlapping with Larissa) because it may lead to:
- non coordinated horizontal effects on the aforementioned markets,
- conglomerate effects between a) the aforementioned markets and b) the market for the provision of non-typical vocational education, training, and lifelong learning services through K.D.V.M and the market for the provision of non-typical post-secondary education services (Colleges),
- effects on the labor market for trainers, in which S.A.E.K. act as buyers.
During the full investigation procedure, the HCC will examine whether the doubts regarding the compatibility of the concentration with the requirements for the functioning of competition in the specific markets it concerns, are confirmed.
According to the provisions of Article 8, par. 4 of Law 3959/2011, from the notification of the initiation of the full investigation procedure to the participating companies, they may jointly make modifications to the concentration or propose commitments to eliminate the serious doubts regarding its compatibility with the requirements for the functioning of competition in the specific markets and notify them to the HCC.
The HCC will issue a decision on the concentration within 90 days from the date of initiation of the full investigation process. The initiation of the full investigation process does not preempt the final outcome of the evaluation.