Once again, merger control is in the spotlight in Western Balkans, with new merger decisions in all jurisdictions.
As for antitrust, last month the most interesting developments were in Serbia, where the NCA opened four new antitrust investigations. Also, the Serbian NCA has pronounced it has no jurisdiction over extraterritorial vertical agreements.
Serbia
Antitrust
Baby equipment again in the spotlight
The Serbian NCA has launched four new antitrust proceedings in the baby equipment sector. The NCA is alleging resale price maintenance, a hardcore restriction under Serbian competition law. In total, ten undertakings have been included in the investigations. This is not the first time the Serbian NCA has delved into the baby equipment sector – back in April, the NCA started two investigations concerning the same alleged infringement in the resale of baby equipment. In addition, the NCA is currently conducting a sector inquiry into the sector.
Antitrust
Serbian NCA "has no jurisdiction over extraterritorial vertical agreements"
In a recently published opinion, the Serbian NCA pronounced it had no jurisdiction over an extraterritorial vertical agreement. The extraterritorial vertical was an exclusive distribution agreement between a Serbian supplier and a foreign distributor. How come then the Serbian NCA has jurisdiction over extraterritorial mergers?
Merger control
Twelve new merger clearances
During the previous month, the Serbian NCA cleared as many as 12 notified transactions. All were unconditional Phase I clearances.
State aid
Two new State aid decisions
During the previous month, the Serbian State aid authority rendered two new decisions. One decision concerned a State aid scheme and the other individual aid. In both instance the authority cleared the notified aid, the total cleared amount being approx. EUR 1.5 million.
Montenegro
Merger control
Six new merger decisions
During the previous month, the Montenegrin NCA cleared six notified transactions. All were unconditional Phase I clearances.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Merger control
Five new merger decisions
During the previous month, the Bosnian NCA was unusually active in the area of merger control, with five new merger decisions. Unlike the other NCAs in the region, the Bosnian NCA does not have to deal with that many merger notifications, owing to the way in which the merger filing thresholds are set in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cleared transactions concerned telecoms & media, technical inspection, ceiling solutions, insurance, and construction material, respectively.
Macedonia (FYROM)
Merger control
Four new merger notifications
During August, the Macedonian NCA received four more merger notifications:
- Salus Ljubljana d.d. (Slovenia) - Sanolabor d.d. (Slovenia)
- NEPT Holdings S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg), natural persons - ITP S.A. (Poland)
- Topraktar Mermer Maden Granit (Turkey) - Ciftyildiz Mermer (Turkey)
- MG Industries (Germany) - Linde AG (Germany), Praxair Inc. (USA)
General
Merger control in the Balkans: The basics
Basic information about the merger filing process in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia (FYROM)
Merger control in the Balkans: The app
An innovative online app for checking the merger filing thresholds in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia (FYROM)
Originally sent by e-mail. Original issue (mailchi.mp) · gajin.rs