Competition Newsletter: July-August 2025

Antitrust

NCA receives a donation of forensic software

The Serbian NCA has signed an agreement on the donation of advanced forensic software with Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIAP), a public agency of the Kingdom of Spain. The donation will be funded under the European Union's IPA III instrument. It is expected this donation will further strengthen the NCA's operational capacity to conduct dawn raids.

Merger control

18 new merger clearances

In July and August, the Montenegrin NCA published 18 new merger clearances:

• Emma Zeta Limited (Cyprus) - Urion doo (Montenegro)
• Enna Solar doo (Croatia) - PVP CEPHEUS S.R.L. (Romania)
• MKG PROPERTIES LTD (Cyprus) - AGNS INVEST DOO (Serbia), Altova Office doo (Serbia)
• cosnova Beauty GmbH (Germany) - VM2 Cosmetics d.o.o. (Croatia)
• ALFI d.o.o. (Slovenia) - Panorganix d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• Telekom Srbija AD (Serbia) - Intercom Computers doo (Serbia)
• Xenergy doo (Montenegro) - Navitas doo (Serbia)
• Erste Group Bank AG (Austria) - Santander Bank Polska S.A. (Poland)
• Tönnies International Management GmbH (Germany) - IFF Ventures GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
• YUKON NIEBIESKI KAPITAL B.V. (Netherlands), ADAM GÓRAL FUNDACJA RODZINNA (Poland) - ASSECO POLAND S.A. (Poland)
• GEN energija d.o.o. (Slovenia) - GORENJSKE ELEKTRARNE d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• AGRANA BeteiligungsAktiengesellschaft (Austria) - AUSTRIA JUICE GmbH (Austria)
• MVM Energetika Zrt. (Hungary) - Energotehnika - Južna Bačka doo (Serbia), ELEKTROMONTAŽA D.O.O. (Serbia)
• ALPE Health doo (Slovenia) - ORIGO ZDRAVLJE d.o.o. (Croatia)
• Telekom Srbija AD (Serbia) - Orion Telekom WiFi doo (Serbia)
• NLB Skladi - Zeleni prehod I A d.o.o. (Slovenia) - Resalta d.o.o. (Serbia)
• Telekom Srbija AD (Serbia) - BEOTELNET– ISP DOO (Serbia)

State aid

New Law on State Aid Control adopted

The Montenegrin parliament has adopted the country's new Law on State Aid Control. Apart from further harmonization of Montenegrin legislation with the EU acquis, the other proclaimed aim of the new legislation is to improve the legislation when it comes to transparency and control of the award of state aid.

New head of the competition authority

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has appointed Ms. Ninela Salihbašić as the president of the country's NCA for a one-year period. According to the Bosnian Competition Act, the Council of Ministers, upon proposal of the NCA, each year appoints the president of the NCA among the members of that body.

Merger control

Three new merger notifications

In July and August, the Bosnian NCA announced the receipt of three new merger notifications:

• Multiply Group PJSC (UAE), PAI Partners S.à.r.l (Luxembourg), Llano Holdings S.à.r.l. (Luxembourg) - Castellano Investments S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg)
• FL Turkey Saglik Hizmetleri AS (Turkey) - Bahceci Saglik Hizmetleri AS (Turkey), Bahceci Kadin Sagligli Tip Merkezleri AS (Turkey)
• H&P d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - ArcelorMittal Zenica d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina), ArcelorMittal d.o.o. (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Merger control

17 new merger notifications

In July and August, the NM NCA announced the receipt of 17 new merger notifications:

• Telelink Business Services Group AD (Bulgaria) - Actual IT (Slovenia)
• AGRANA (Austria) - Austria Juice GmbH (Austria)
• ALPE Health doo (Slovenia), natural person (Croatia) - Origo Zdravlje doo (Croatia)
• SALUS doo (Slovenia) - FARMADENT doo (Slovenia)
• Central Asia Metals PLC (UK) - New World Resources Limited (Australia)
• Honeywell International, Inc. (USA) - Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies Limited (UK). Johnson Matthey Chemicals GmbH (Germany), Johnson Matthey Process Technologies, Inc. (USA)
• Lenis Intermediate, Inc. (USA) - LENIS farmacevtika d.o.o. (Slovenia)
• Telekom Serbia AD (Serbia) - Orion Telekom WiFi doo (Serbia)
• Telekom Serbia AD (Serbia) - Beotelnet-ISP doo (Serbia)
• Strabag AG (Germany) - WTE Wassertechnik GmbH (Germany)
• Schwarz New Ventures GmbH (Germany), Axel Springer SE (Germany) - DIN Media GmbH (Germany)
• MVM Energetika Zrt. (Hungary) - Energotehnika - Južna Bačka doo (Serbia), ELEKTROMONTAŽA D.O.O. (Serbia)
• 4iG Távközlési Holding Zrt. (Hungary) - Netfone Telecom Kft. (Hungary)
• Erste Group Bank AG (Austria), Global Payments Inc. (USA) - Erste Card Club doo (Croatia)
• JUHOR-EKSPORT doo (Serbia) - Food Star Plus doo (Serbia)
• Telekom Serbia AD (Serbia) - Link 016 doo (Serbia)
• Telekom Serbia AD (Serbia) - KATV doo (Serbia)

Merger control

Nine new merger notifications

In July and August, the Albanian NCA announced the receipt of nine new merger notifications:

• Yukon Niebieski Kapital BV (Netherlands), Adam Góral Fundacja Rodzinna (Poland) - ASSECO POLAND SA (Poland)
• Natural persons (Albania) - InfoSoft Business Solutions SHPK (Albania)
• CEE – BIG BV (Netherlands), Balfin – Balkan Finance Investment Group SHPK (Albania) - Retail Park Shkodra SHPK (Albania)
• TK Co., Ltd. (Japan) - TOPCON CORPORATION (Japan)
• AGRANA Internationale Verwaltungs-und Asset-Management GmbH (Austria) - AUSTRIA JUICE GmbH (Austria)
• 4 AM SHPK (Albania) - ILIRIADA SHPK (Albania)
• MVM Energetika Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság (Hungary) - Energotehnika-Južna Bačka doo (Serbia), ELEKTROMONTAŽA DOO KRALJEVO (Serbia)
• Boost BidCo Srl (Italy) - TELECOM ITALIA SPARKLE SPA (Italy)
• Balfin BV (Netherlands), PIAZ INVESTMENT DOO (North Macedonia) - Just Fun Balkans SHPK (Albania)