Competition Newsletter: April 2022

Doklestic Repic & Gajin a leading firm across three jurisdictions

The newest edition of Legal 500 EMEA guide was published in April, and our law firm is one of the rare ones ranked as a leading firm in three jurisdictions - Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Doklestic Repic & Gajin retains a Tier 2 ranking for Competition in Serbia

We have also done well in the rankings for Competition, retaining a Tier 2 ranking in our base jurisdiction, Serbia.

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State aid

Investment aid to Hansgrohe cleared

Serbia's state aid watchdog has cleared investment aid to Hansgrohe, in the total amount of around EUR 17 million. The aid by Serbian government will consist in direct subsidies and providing to Hansgrohe construction land free of charge. The total value of the investment is expected to be approx. EUR 86.5 million.

State aid

Aid for hotel construction cleared

Serbia's state aid watchdog has also cleared state support to a Chinese investor for the construction of hotel capacities in a Serbian spa resort Banja Koviljača. The investor is supposed to receive EUR 4 million in direct subsidies from the Serbian state, spread over a period of four years.

New leadership of the Montenegrin NCA appointed

The Montenegrin NCA got a new leadership in April. The new acting head of the NCA is Mr. Nebojša Jovović, who replaced Ms. Lepa Aleksić in that position. In addition, the posts of three members of the Council, the governing body of the NCA, were also appointed. The new Council are members are: Mr. Dragan Damjanović (who is now the head of the Council), Ms. Plana Karadžić, and Ms. Lepa Aleksić (the former acting head of the NCA).

Antitrust

Exclusive agreement in beer industry individually exempted

The Montenegrin NCA has individually exempted an exclusive distribution agreement between Irish company Diageo Ireland Unlimited Company and Montenegrin company Trebjesa Nikšić (part of Molson Coors group). The agreement pertains to the distribution of Guinness, Kilkenny and Hop House 13 brands in Montenegro. The exemption is valid until the end of 2026.

Merger control

Three new merger decisions

During April, the Montenegrin NCA issued three new merger clearances:

• LG Electronics Inc. (South Korea), SM Entertainment Co. Ltd. (South Korea) [JV]
• Fashion Company d.o.o. (Serbia) - Movem & Co. d.o.o. (Serbia)
• Menzies Aviation (Europe) B.V. (Netherlands) - Flystar Aviation Services d.o.o. (Serbia), Fly Montenegro Ground Handling d.o.o. (Montenegro)

Merger control

Two new merger notices

During April, the Bosnian NCA published two new merger notices:

• Všeobecná úverová banka (Slovakia), Slovenská sporiteľňa (Slovakia), Tatra banka (Slovakia), 365.bank (Slovakia), Československá obchodná banka (Slovakia) [JV]
• Nova banka a.d. Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Sberbank a.d. Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Merger control

Four new merger notifications

During April, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of four new merger notifications:

• Sarantis Polska SA (Poland) - Stella Pack Europe Sp. z oo (Poland)
• Tosca Iom Finco Limited (UK) - Virtual1 Limited (UK)
• Lamium Trade Limited (Cyprus), Kula Solar Ltd. (Cyprus), Viafast Ltd. (Cyprys) - Agrosolar d.o.o. (Serbia), Viafast d.o.o. (Serbia)
• VGRD GmbH (Germany) - Auto-Holding Dresden (Germany) [assets]