Competition Newsletter: January-February 2025

Antitrust

NCA investigates the medicines market

The Serbian NCA has announced that it has started a sectoral inquiry into the market for human medicines. In the inquiry, the NCA will focus on medicines that are covered by the public health insurance. The NCA will examine price formation, market shares, competition conditions, the existence of possible barriers to market entry, vertical relationships between wholesalers and pharmacies and other aspects of the sale of human medicines in Serbia.

Draft amendments to the Competition Act published

Draft amendments to the Montenegrin Competition Act have been published and contain some far-reaching changes of the existing system. Arguably, the most important proposed change is that the Montenegrin NCA would get the power to impose fines (currently, fines for competition law infringements in Montenegro are imposed by a misdemeanor court). To read an overview of the most important proposed novelties, please check out our blog post, here.

here

Antitrust

NCA warns food retail chains

As is the case with other Western Balkan NCAs, the Montenegrin NCA is concerned with the markets that directly affect wider population. In that light, the Montenegrin NCA has warned the country's food retail chains that the authority will be on the lookout to find any restrictive agreement or abuse of dominance on the food retail market. The warning comes amid rising food prices in Montenegro, a phenomenon not limited to this Balkan country.

Merger control

Six new merger clearances

During January and February, the Montenegrin NCA issued six new merger clearances:

• NLB Car&Go doo (Slovenia) - DoberAvto.si (Slovenia) [assets]
• ČEZ, Holdings B.V. (Netherlands) - ROLLS-ROYCE SMR LIMITED (UK)
• Mainstream informacijske tehnologije doo (Slovenia) - HC Center DOO (Slovenia)
• Hemofarm ad (Serbia) - Premium Pharma doo (Serbia) [assets]
• N Sport doo (Serbia) - Intersport S Trgovina doo (Serbia) [assets]
• SAV 92 (Ukraine) - Orbiko Ukraine (Ukraine)

A quiet start of the year in Bosnia and Herzegovina

When it comes to competition law developments, it has been a slow start to the new year in Bosnia and Herzegovina - nothing interesting to report. To read about the main developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous year, please check out our post on Kluwer Competition Law blog.

on Kluwer Competition Law blog

Antitrust

NCA uncovers cartel in auto liability insurance

In a rare sign of its antitrust enforcement activity, the North Macedonian NCA has announced it has uncovered a cartel between the providers of auto liability insurance in North Macedonia. According to the NCA, ten insurers were involved in the cartel on fixing the price of auto liability premiums. In separate, misdemeanor, proceedings, the NCA will likely impose fines on the undertakings involved.

Merger control

Fifteen new merger notifications

During January and February, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of 15 new merger notifications:

• Ingredion Germania GmbH (Germany), Agrana Starke GmbH (Austria) - AGFD Tandarei SRL (Romania)
• Fashion Company doo (Serbia) - AB-Line doo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Erste Asset Management GmbH (Austria) - InterCapital Asset Management doo (Croatia)
• Proteini.si doo (Slovenia) - Sanivita doo (Slovenia)
• Yageo Corporation (Taiwan) - Kemet Corp. (USA)
• Sigal Business Center (Albania) - Sigal Uniqa Group Austria (Albania)
• Volkswagen AG (Germany), Rivian Automotive, Inc. (USA) [JV]
• Duferco Italia Holding SpA (Italy) - Comal SpA (Italy)
• United Media Sarl (Luxembourg), Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries SA (Greece) - Nevine Holdings Limited (Cyprus)
• KF Finance doo (Slovenia) - ZA & SVET doo (Slovenia)
• RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria Handel und Vermögensverwaltung eGen (Austria) - RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria Aktiengesellschaft (Austria)
• Alpe V doo (Slovenia) - Sanovet doo (Slovenia)
• Telekom Serbia ad (Serbia) - Skynet KTV doo (Serbia)
• Yageo Corporation (Taiwan) - Shibaura Electronics Co., Ltd. (Japan)
• Vila Bogatin doo (Slovenia) - MDT i T doo (Slovenia), Medialab doo (Slovenia)

Merger control

Seven new merger notifications

During January and February, the Albanian NCA announced the receipt of seven new merger notifications:

• SIGAL BUSINESS CENTER SHPK (Albania) - SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA SHA (Albania)
• AUDI Aktiengesellschaft (Germany), Qatar Holding LLC (Qatar) - Sauber Holding AG (Switzerland)
• Dr. Ing.hcF Porche Aktiengesellschaft (Germany) - STRATSTONE SPECIALIST CARS LTD (UK)
• Eurolab Internacional Grup SHPK (Albania) - STEFANI & CO SHA (Albania)
• DIGI Távközlési és Szolgáltató Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság (Hungary) - assets (Hungary)
• M42 LTD. (UAE) - Diaverum AB (Sweden)
• Daimler Truck AG (Germany), Aktiebolaget Volvo (Sweden) [JV]