In an eventful month in the Balkans, the Serbian NCA has opened two new Phase II merger investigations, the Kosovo NCA has prevented a price increase on the cement market, and the Bosnian NCA has individually exempted an agreement on the beer market.
There were more interesting developments, including the decision of the Serbian Government to declare a public service obligation on twelve air routes connecting the Serbian city of Niš with 12 destinations across Europe.
Serbia
Merger control
Thirteen new merger decisions
During the previous month, the Serbian NCA rendered as many as 13 new merger decisions. All were unconditional Phase I clearances.
Merger control
Two new Phase II investigations
The Serbian NCA has launched two Phase II merger probes:
- Concerning the planned acquisition of a local cable operator by the Serbian telecom incumbent - Telecom Serbia ;
- Concerning the planned JV between two leading retailers of consumer electronics and home appliances in Serbia .
State aid
Fourteen new State aid decisions
During March, the Serbian State aid authority rendered 14 new State aid decisions. In all instances, the watchdog cleared the notified State support. All decisions concerned support to local/regional media. The total amount of approved aid was approx. EUR 3 million.
State aid
PSO declared on 12 flight routes
The Serbian Government has declared a public service obligation concerning 12 international flight routes, connecting the city of Niš (located in the south of Serbia) and the following European cities:
- Nuremberg (Germany);
- Frankfurt (Germany);
- Rome (Italy);
- Hanover (Germany);
- Ljubljana (Slovenia);
- Salzburg (Austria);
- Bologna (Italy);
- Budapest (Hungary);
- Gothenburg (Sweden);
- Friedrichshafen (Germany);
- Karlsruhe (Germany);
- Tivat (Montenegro).
Kosovo NCA
Kosovo NCA prevents the price increase of cement
Upon receiving information that the price of cement will rise rise for 1 euro per 50 kg in the entire territory of Kosovo, the Kosovo NCA had suspicions that the main manufacturers and importers of cement could abuse their dominant position or have an oral arrangement on parallel pricing. After contacting the relevant actors, the NCA clarified the relevant provisions of the antitrust legislation and managed to prevent the price increase.
Montenegro
A quiet month in Montenegro
It was a quiet month in Montenegro - apart from attending an international competition conference organized by Bundeskartellamt in Berlin, the Montenegrin NCA did not have any other reported activities during March.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Antitrust
Individual exemption of an agreement on the beer market
The Bosnian NCA has afforded an individual exemption to an agreement between Bavaria N.V. (Netherlands), of the one part, and Molson Coors d.o.o. Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Zagrebačka pivovara d.o.o. Zagreb (Croatia), Apatinska pivara d.o.o. Apatin (Serbia) and Trebjesa d.o.o. Nikšić (Montenegro), of the other part.
Merger control
One new merger clearance
The Bosnian NCA has cleared a concentration on the market for the production, supply, and wholesale of salt, between AS HOLDING d.o.o. Jelah, Tešanj (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Solana d.d. Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
North Macedonia
Merger control
Three new merger notifications
During March, the North Macedonian NCA published notices concerning three new merger notifications, involving the following undertakings:
- Steiermärkische Bank und Sparkassen AG (Austria) - Ohridska Banka AD Skopje (North Macedonia);
- PHC Holdings Corporation (Japan) - Katama, Ltd. (Cayman Islands);
- Coca-Cola HBC Serbia (Serbia) - Bambi a.d. (Serbia).
General
Merger control in the Balkans: The app
An innovative online app for checking the merger filing thresholds in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.
Originally sent by e-mail. Original issue (mailchi.mp) · gajin.rs