The Balkan competition authorities were not idle during the summer, continuing with their merger control activities. Most notably, the Serbian NCA has issued its first Phase II decision of the year.
There were some interesting developments in the State aid sphere, too, predominantly in connection with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Serbia
Antitrust
Bus station operator investigated
The Serbian NCA has started an antitrust investigation against the operator of a bus station in the Serbian city of Kragujevac. The NCA is investigating whether the operator, also active in bus transportation, has abused its dominant position by the way it has been setting the price for its services to bus transporters. The Serbian NCA has led several similar investigations in the past - this kind of infringement seems to be one of the NCA's priorities.
Merger control
Combination in pesticide industry cleared in Phase II
The Serbian NCA has rendered its first Phase II clearance of the year, giving the green light to the takeover of Galenika-Fitofarmacija ad by Agromarket doo. The target is active in the production of pesticides so this was the main market the NCA looked at during the Phase II probe. The watchdog also examined the markets for wholesale of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, respectively.
State aid
Aid to Toyo Tire cleared
The Serbian State aid watchdog has cleared state assistance to the Serbian subsidiary of a Japanese tire producer Toyo Tire. The aid consists in giving the manufacturer construction land free of charge, which the company would use for building a factory in Serbia. The estimated value of the land to be given to Toyo Tire is around EUR 3 million.
State aid
Scheme of aid to hotel industry cleared
The Serbian State aid watchdog has cleared a government scheme aimed at assisting the country's hotel industry, severely hit by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. The total value of the package is approx. EUR 12.5 million. Undertakings in this industry are entitled to EUR 350 per individual bed and EUR 150 per accommodation unit, whereby no single undertaking can receive more than EUR 750,000 of assistance.
State aid
Sectoral inquiry into the rail freight market published
The Serbian NCA has published a sectoral analysis into the Serbian rail freight market. The NCA analyzed the competitive conditions and the structure of this market. No indication of competition infringement was found during the inquiry.
Montenegro
Montenegro establishes COVID-19 State aid registry
The Montenegrin NCA, which also acts as the country's State aid watchdog, has announced it has established a registry of aid received in connection with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. The NCA explained such a registry is needed for an effective enforcement of Montenegrin State aid rules in light of the coronavirus crisis.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Antitrust
A probe on the market for online games of chance
Acting upon a complaint by a company Meridian Tech d.o.o. Banja Luka, the Bosnian NCA has started an antitrust investigation against the Ministry of Finance of Republika Srpska and nCity network d.o.o. Banja Luka. The NCA is looking into whether the investigated subjects had infringed competition by entering into restrictive agreements and abusing dominance on the market for online games of chance in Republika Srpska.
Antitrust
A utility company investigated
The Bosnian NCA has started an antitrust probe against a provider of utility services from the town of Brod. The watchdog is investigating alleged illegal tying.
State aid
Assistance to a railway operator not State aid
The Bosnian State aid watchdog has found that notified assistance to Željeznice Republike Srpske, a railway operator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was not State aid. The assistance was given by the Ministry of Transport of Republika Srpska, in the amount of approx. EUR 21 million.
North Macedonia
Six new merger notifications
During July and August, the North Macedonian NCA received six new merger notifications:
- Generali CEE Holding B.V. (Netherlands) - Red Sands Life Assurance Company (Europe) Limited
- DASTO semtel d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Nova BH doo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- S&T AG (Austria) - Fintel Holding doo (Slovenia)
- Grand Slam Group doo (Serbia) - Grand Production doo (Serbia)
- BC Partners, Vacchi, Schiavina, Malagoli - Società Finanziaria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (Italy)
- United Media Sarl (Luxembourg) - Rimi Media Group doo (Serbia), Matrix D doo (Serbia), Radio Seven doo (Serbia), TDI Radio doo (Montenegro), Maxim Media Plus doo (Serbia)
General
Merger Control in Serbia: 2019
Did you know that almost half of merger clearances in Serbia last year concerned extraterritorial transactions? Read about this and other interesting facts in our annual overview of merger control in Serbia.
Originally sent by e-mail. Original issue (mailchi.mp) · gajin.rs