Competition Newsletter: July-August 2023

Quiet antitrust summer in Serbia

There were no interesting competition law developments in Serbia during the summer.

Antitrust

Montenegrin Association of Travel Agencies investigated

The Montenegrin NCA is investigating the Montenegrin Association of Travel Agencies, on suspicion that its members had engaged in cartel-like price fixing. After conducting dawn raids, the NCA got into possession of the Association's pricelist concerning services provided by Montenegrin travel agencies. For instance, the pricelist specifies how much a travel agency is supposed to charge for flight or hotel reservation. The NCA has invited all interested to parties to submit any additional information or documents that may be relevant for the investigation.

Merger control

12 new merger notifications

During July and August, the Montenegrin NCA announced the receipt of 12 new merger notifications:

• DuluxGroup Limited (Australia) - N.P.T. S.r.l. (Italy)
• CARIAD Estonia AS (Estonia) - Shanghai Muchuan Industrial Design Co. Ltd. (China)
• DuluxGroup Limited (Australia) - N.P.T. S.r.l (Italy)
• CARIAD Estonia AS (Estonia) - Shanghai Muchuan Industrial Design Co. Ltd. (China)
• Sava Reinsurance Company d.d. (Slovenia) - Application Software Partner doo (Serbia)
• ALFI PE doo (Slovenia) - Vemo Trade doo (Croatia)
• Delta Holding doo (Serbia) - Atled doo (Serbia)
• Telekom Serbia ad (Serbia) - Globaltel doo (Serbia)
• Atlantic Grand doo (Serbia) - Strauss Adriatic doo (Serbia)
• Nestlé SA (Switzerland) - PAI Partners Sarl (Luxembourg) [JV]
• Telemach Slovenija doo (Slovenia) - KTV Dravograd doo (Slovenia), NAKOM doo (Slovenia)
• Crossroad Adria doo (Serbia) - FCA Srbija doo (Serbia) [assets]

Antitrust

Public broadcasters in abuse of collective dominance

The Bosnian NCA has found that three public broadcaster in the country - Radiotelevizija Bosne i Hercegovine, Radiotelevizija Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine, and Radiotelevizija Republike Srpske, had abused their collective dominant position on the market for the sale of TV advertising services. The NCA found the three undertakings had done so through the adoption of their joint pricelist of advertising and sponsorship services. The NCA fined all three companies, as well as another company, Media Pool doo, each for their involvement in the infringement.

Merger control

23 new merger notifications

During July and August, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of 23 new merger notifications:

• Messer SE & Co. KGaA (Germany) - Yeti GermanCo 1 GmbH (Germany), Yeti Warehouse GmbH (Germany)
• Kappa Star Recycling doo (Serbia), Nutrivet doo (North Macedonia) - Eko Star Reciklaža dooel (North Macedonia), Ekopak SKS doo (North Macedonia)
• Abu Dhabi National Oil Company PJSC (UAE), Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (Austria) - OMV AG (Austria)
• OMV Deutschland GmbH (Germany) - Walldürn Grundstücks GmbH (Germany)
• Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (Italy) -Liberty Seguros S.A. (Spain)
• Messer SE & Co. KGaA (Germany), Toyota Tsusho Europe SA (Belgium) [JV]
• ALFI RE d.o.o. (Slovenia), CBE Invest d.o.o. (Slovenia) - Quadro d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• Borealis AG (Austria) - RIALTI S.p.A (Italy)
• Aristocrat Leisure Limited (Australia) - NeoGames SA (Luxembourg)
• Orbico doo (Croatia) - Asnova Holding dd (Croatia)
• CC Beverages Holdings II B.V. (Netherlands) - Brown-Forman Finland Oy (Finland)
• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany) - Levi Rally Center Oy (Finland)
• BIG Energia Holdings Kft. (Hungary) - Dam Energy doo (North Macedonia)
• Agromarket Logistic doo (Serbia) - Hemomak Pesticidi dooel (North Macedonia)
• Ceska Sporitelna a.s. (Czechia) - BNP Paribas Personal Finance [assets]
• VLC Holding AB (Sweden), Vargas HMVH AB (Sweden) [JV]
• DS Smith Packaging South East GmbH (Austria) - BOSIS doo (Serbia)
• Nelt Co. doo (Serbia) - Di Vej doo (Serbia), Di Vej doo (Montenegro)
• Init Group ApS (Denmark) - Nebb Engineering AS (Norway)
• Telecom Serbia ad (Serbia) - KDS Internet TV doo (Serbia)
• Infinum doo (Croatia) - Expand The Room LLC (USA)
• Eduard Kettner GmbH (Austria) - Fröwis GmbH (Austria)
• Sasol Investment Company (Pty) Limited (South Africa), Topsoe Project Investment A/S (Denmark) [JV]

Merger control

Company fined for submitting incomplete and incorrect data

The Albanian NCA has fined the company Air BP Albania SHA for submitting incomplete and incorrect data in merger control proceedings. The contentious data related to the date of conclusion of the transaction agreement (that is relevant in Albania since in this jurisdictions there is a deadline for submitting a merger notification following the execution of the transaction agreement). For this kind of violation, the maximum fine is 1% of the undertaking's annual turnover during the relevant period.

Merger control

Three companies fined for late notification

The Albanian NCA has imposed fines on three companies for their late notification of acquisition of joint control over a target company. Agna SHA, Info-Telecom LLC and Tirana International Development LLC. The maximum fine for this kind of violation is 1% of the undertaking's annual turnover during the relevant period.

Merger control

Five new merger notifications

During July and August, the Albanian NCA announced the receipt of five new merger notifications:

• Empresa Eléctrica Pilmaiquén SA (Chile) - Eólica CQN Uno SpA (Chile), Eólica CQN Dos SpA (Chile)
• Statkraft Ireland Limited (Ireland) - GGE Ireland Limited (Ireland), EMP Energy Limited (Ireland)
• Saint Gobain Construction Products Albania LLC (Albania) - Delgi LLC (Albania)
• KKR & Co, Inc. (USA) - CIRCOR International, Inc. (USA)
• Mutares SE & Co. KGaA (Germany) - Efacec Power Solutions, SGPS SA (Portugal)