During the previous month, antitrust was in the spotlight in Balkans, with two new dawn raids in Serbia, a cartel investigation in Montenegro, and an antitrust decision in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Macedonia, the focus remains on merger control, with five new merger notifications.
Serbia
Antitrust
Baby equipment: Two dawn raids in an RPM case
The Serbian NCA has announced that it has performed dawn raids in two Serbian companies active as importers and distributors of baby equipment. The NCA did so on suspicion that the companies have engaged in resale price maintenance practices, which have been in particular focus of the authority.
State aid
Eight new State aid decisions
During the previous month, the Serbian State aid Commission issued eight new State aid decisions, approving aid in the total amount of approx. EUR 2.5 million. Four decisions were rendered in ex ante and four in ex post proceedings.
Other developments
Legal 500 rankings for Competition
The legal directory Legal 500 has published its rankings for Competition in Serbia.
Other developments
Competition Law Day
Each year, on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the Serbian NCA, the NCA organizes a conference and gathers the most prominent actors in Serbian and regional competition law day. This was also the case this year, with the Competition Law Day being held on April 24. This year, the special guest was Japan.
Other developments
New sector inquiry: tires
The Serbian NCA has published the summary of another sector inquiry it has conducted - this time it was the market for the production and sale of tires. The NCA identified several relevant markets in that sector and it can be expected it will stick with such an approach in case of any competition assessment in that sector. Two global players in the field of tires have production in Serbia - Michelin and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.
Montenegro
Antitrust
Cartel in the public procurement of medical equipment
The Montenegrin NCA has issued a decision finding that two Montenegrin companies (Urion and Montemedicom) had coordinated the terms offered in a public procurement procedure in Montenegro. The procurement concerned medical equipment, specifically X-ray supplies.
Antitrust
Price fixing by driving schools
The Montenegrin NCA has launched an investigation against seven driving schools from the Montenegrin town of Nikšić. Allegedly, the driving schools agreed on the prices for driving lessons, which would amount to a cartel.
Merger control
One new merger decision
During the previous month, the Montenegrin NCA published one new merger decision - an unconditional clearance.
State aid
One new State aid decision
During April, the Montenegrin State aid authority published one new decision - an approval of a State aid scheme for the support of culture and media. The amount of the approved aid was EUR 3.7 million.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Antitrust
A cable operator’s complaint against the incumbent telecom operator rejected
The Bosnian NCA has dismissed a complaint by Telemach (a cable operator ultimately owned by KKR) against the incumbent telecom operator in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – BH Telecom. The rejected claim concerned alleged abuse of dominance by BH Telecom.
Antitrust
Investigation against Addiko Bank terminated
Acting upon a complaint by a consumer association, the Bosnian NCA investigated whether the Bosnian branch of Addiko Bank and certain banking institutions in the country had entered into a restrictive agreement. In the end, the NCA did not find any wrongdoing by these parties, though it did impose a fine on Addiko Bank for failing to deliver certain information during the proceeding.
Merger control
A JV involving Arcelor Mittal cleared
The Bosnian NCA has cleared a concentration in the form of a joint venture, involving Arcelor Mittal, the City of Zenica, KPA Unicon Oy Pieksämaki (Finland) and the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Helsinki. The JV will be active on the market for the production, distribution, and trade of electric power in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well on the market for the production and supply of heat energy in the territory of the Bosnian city of Zenica.
Macedonia (FYROM)
Merger control
Five new notified concentrations
During April, the Macedonian NCA has published notices of five newly notified concentrations:
Merger control
Unitary enterprise Velkom (Belarus) - Open Joint Stock Company „Vitebskiy oblastnoy tecno-torgoviy tsentr "Garant" (Belarus)
concerning the market for distribution of media content and broadband internet;
Merger control
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (Germany) & Daimler AG (Germany)
concerning the market for mobility services;
Merger control
JATA EMONA (Slovenia) - Brinovka (Slovenia)
concerning the market for the sale of red meat and read products;
Merger control
Plastiche SA (Luxembourg) - Bamberger Polymers Corp.(USA)
concerning the market for plastic products;
Merger control
Daimler AG (Germany) - Intelligent Apps GmbH (Germany)
concerning the market for taxi services.
Originally sent by e-mail. Original issue (mailchi.mp) · gajin.rs