Competition Newsletter: March 2021

State aid

New regional aid and de minimis regulations

The Serbian Government has adopted two new state aid regulations - governing regional and de minimis aid, respectively. The proclaimed aim of the new regulations is further alignment of the Serbian state aid system with the EU model.

State aid

EUR 28 million aid to Continental Automotive cleared

The Serbian state aid watchdog has cleared planned state support for an investment in Serbia by Continental Automotive. The cleared aid will be in the form of subsidies in the total amount of approx. EUR 28 million, payable over the course of three years.

State aid

Doklestic Repic & Gajin lawyers feature in the latest Chambers guide

New Chambers Europe rankings are out - and they include lawyers from Doklestic Repic & Gajin.

Read more

Antitrust

Individual exemption for an agreement between insurance companies

The Montenegrin NCA has individually exempted from prohibition an agreement between two Montenegrin insurance companies - Lovćen and Generali Osiguranje Montenegro. The exempted agreement concerns a joint bid by the insurance companies in a tender procedure organized by the Montenegrin electric power incumbent, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore.

Merger control

Seven new merger decisions

During March, the Montenegrin NCA rendered seven new merger decisions:

• Generali CEE Holding B.V. (Netherlands) – Saneo S.A. (Poland)
• TRATON SE (Germany) - Navistar International Corporation (USA)
• MAN Energy Solutions SE (Germany) - H-TEC Systems GmbH (Germany)
• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany) - TransnetBW GmbH (Germany)
• HIFA OIL CG d.o.o. (Montenegro) – a gas station in Montenegro
• Jugopetrol ad (Montenegro) – a gas station in Montenegro
• United Media Sarl (Luxembourg) – Vestnik Telegraf EOOD (Bulgaria)

Antitrust

Heating plant in abuse of dominance investigation

The Bosnian NCA has started an abuse of dominance case against the company operating a heating plant in the Bosnian city of Tuzla. Based on available information, the alleged abuse of dominance consisted in illegal tying.

Merger control

Seven new merger notifications

During March, the North Macedonian NCA announced the receipt of seven new merger notifications:

• Bugarskoto Telekomunikacisko Drushtvo EAD (Bulgaria) – Digital Cable Television OOD (Bulgaria)
• Mesna Industrija Braća Pivac (Croatia) – Kraš Prehrambena Industrija dd (Croatia)
• City Plaza doo (North Macedonia) – Ramstore Makedonija doo (North Macedonia)
• Ravago Chemicals SA (Luxembourg) – Indukern, S.A. (Spain)
• Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Germany), TransnetBW GmbH (Germany) [JV]
• Liechtenstein Beteiligungs GmbH (Austria), Managementkompetenz UB-Unternehmensberatung GmbH (Austria), RGA Beteiligungs GmbH (Austria) - PV-Invest GmbH (Austria)
• Metalfonning GmbH (Austria), LG Electronics Inc. (South Korea) [JV]