The European Commission has referred the antitrust review of Lidl’s plans to acquire Tengelmann’s Plus discount operations in Bulgaria and Romania to local competition authorities.

While both Lidl’s parent Schwarz Group and Tengelmann are German companies, Bulgaria and Romania requested the Commission refer the proposed deal back to their competition authorities as the transaction could impact competition in their domestic markets.

The deal would see Lidl acquire 23 Plus outlets in Bulgaria and 96 Plus stores in Romania. It would marks Lidl’s entry into the two markets.